Sri Lanka predicted XI (Source: AFP)The Sri Lanka cricket team is scheduled to go up against hosts Pakistan in the second T20I of their three-match series on Sunday, October 11. The match will be hosted by the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.Pakistan won the first T20I a couple of days ago at the same venue to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 2nd T20I, 2026 PreviewSri Lanka lost the high-scoring first T20I match in Rawalpindi by four wickets and seven balls to spare against the hosts. A cracking 55-ball 91 from Lahiru Udara went in vain as Sri Lanka bowlers failed to defend 182 runs. All in all, the visiting bowlers fell short against Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat’s run chase rampage as the duo stormed the ‘Men in Green’ to 187-6 in just 18.5 overs.Sri Lanka also lost its preceding bilateral T20I series in England by a 0-3 margin, and recently failed to reach the final of the 2026 Men’s T20 Asian Games in Japan.ALSO READHighest Successful Run Chases For Pakistan Vs Sri Lanka In T20IsHere is a look at a predicted playing XI for the Sri Lanka team for the second T20I match of the series against Pakistan.Openers and Top Order: Lahiru Udara, Kusal Mendis (c and wk), Kamil MisharaLahiru Udara will continue to open the innings with his captain and experienced campaigner Kusal Mendis. Udara bludgeoned 91 runs off just 55 balls in the series-opening first T20I at the same venue, and the cricketer holds a blistering T20I strike rate of 138.04 at the top of the order. With Pathum Nissanka out of the Sri Lanka squad, Kamil Mishara will likely receive another crack at number three, even though he failed to go big in first T20I match.Middle-order and All-rounders: Kamindu Mendis, Sahan Arachchige, Dasun Shanaka, Chamindu WickramasingheKamindu Mendis, batting all-rounder Sahan Arachchige and former captain Dasun Shanaka will constitute Sri Lanka’s middle-order once again in the second T20I of the series. Mendis scored a swift 18-ball 23 in the first game, and he holds a strike rate of nearly 130 in the format. Arachchige bludgeoned 240 runs at a strike rate of over 147 in the recently-concluded LPL 2026 season. Dasun Shanaka, meanwhile, is one of the most experienced campaigners in the Sri Lankan line-up and his death-overs pyro techniques can put pressure on the Pakistani bowling attack.Chamindu Wickramasinghe might make his return to the playing XI after nearly two years, considering the 24-year-old holds an impressive all-round profile in T20 cricket. He will likely replace Dunith Wellalage, who failed to make any impact with the ball earlier this week in Rawalpindi.Bowlers: Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Nuwan Thushara In the absence of injured Wanindu Hasaranga, fellow spinner Maheesh Theekshana will be expected to helm the Sri Lankan spin attack once again in the second T20I of the series. Fast bowlers Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga and Nuwan Thushara will be expected to bowl inside the powerplay overs, much like how they did earlier this week during the series-opener in Rawalpindi. Both Malinga and ace spinner Maheesh Theekshana picked up two wickets each in the high-scoring game, while Thushara and Chameera chipped in with a wicket each. Sri Lanka Predicted Playing XI vs Pakistan For 2nd T20I, 2026 Lahiru Udara, Kusal Mendis (c and wk), Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Sahan Arachchige, Dasun Shanaka, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga and Nuwan Thushara.ALSO READKevin Pietersen Predicts Bidding War For Shai Hope In IPL 2027 Auction Amid Red-Hot T20I Form
