Rohit Sharma Dasun Shanaka. Image Credits: X
Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka shocked Pakistan with a valiant knock during the recent Super 8 fixture of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. His knock, which consisted of 8 sixes, helped him top an elite tournament record.
Shanaka led from the front when he needed him the most. From 101/5, he built a partnership with Pavan Rathnayake and almost snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
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Dasun Shanaka surpasses Rohit Sharma in the elite sixes record
The skipper slammed 76* off just 31 balls, and his knock included two fours and eight sixes. Dasun Shanaka slammed Shadab Khan for 18 runs and Shaheen Afridi for 22 runs in the final two overs.
However, Sri Lanka fell just 6 runs short of the 213-run target and lost the match despite Shanaka’s valiant effort.
Regardless, the Sri Lankan captain achieved a personal milestone. With those 8 sixes, Dasun Shanaka now holds the record of hitting the most sixes in T20 World Cups among captains, leaving Rohit Sharma behind.
Most 6s in T20WC (among Captains)
- 21 - Dasun Shanaka
- 19 - Rohit Sharma
- 17 - Jos Buttler, Chris Gayle
- 16 - MS Dhoni
- 12 - Aiden Markram, K Williamson, R Berrington
He surpassed Rohit Sharma, who previously held the record with 19 sixes. The list also includes legends like Jos Buttler, Chris Gayle and MS Dhoni.
For Dasun Shanaka, however, the night of February 28 ended on a bittersweet note. He played one of the finest knocks of his life but failed to secure a deserving victory for his team.
Sri Lanka and Pakistan ousted from the T20 World Cup 2026
That being said, despite the victory, Pakistan also failed to qualify for the semi-final stage of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. They finished third in Group 2 with a negative NRR of -0.123.
New Zealand, on the other hand, also had the same points (3) as Pakistan, but they advanced further due to their positive NRR.
Sri Lanka, however, had nothing to gain. They failed to win a single game in the Super 8 contest and finished at the bottom of the table with zero points. So from Group 2, England and New Zealand have formally made it to the semi-finals.
Sanath Jayasuriya steps down as Sri Lanka head coach
Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lanka had a horrendous campaign in the Super 8 stage of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, as they failed to win a single game despite being the co-hosts.
To take responsibility for this debacle, head coach Sanath Jayasuriya has stepped down from his role.
What made the moment even more dramatic was that the resignation was revealed during the post-match press conference, reportedly without prior formal communication to Sri Lanka Cricket.
Although his contract was set to run until June 2026, Jayasuriya’s tone suggested he had already accepted that his time was up.
While the Sri Lanka cricket board is yet to issue a statement, a replacement for Sanath Jayasuriya is expected to be appointed very soon. Sri Lanka still have a talented core, but they need stability, direction, and perhaps a fresh voice in the dressing room.
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