Sri Lanka climb ladder in ICC rankings

Sri Lanka’s white-ball resurgence over the past 12 months has seen them punch above their weight and rise to fourth in the ICC rankings – a stunning turnaround for a side that not too long ago was scraping the bottom of the barrel. Having missed out on qualification for this year’s Champions Trophy – finishing ninth at the cut-off and watching the bus leave without them – Sri Lanka have since tightened their shoelaces and hit the ground running. According to the ICC’s latest rankings update released in early May, Sri Lanka leapfrogged up the table thanks to landmark series wins against top-ranked India and reigning world champions Australia.

It’s been a remarkable comeback – like a team that once couldn’t buy a win now playing like seasoned campaigners. Credit must go to Sanath Jayasuriya, the swashbuckling former skipper who took over as Head Coach and made his intentions clear from ball one: raise the bar across all formats. From demanding peak fitness to lifting fielding standards out of the doldrums, Jayasuriya has instilled a no-nonsense culture, and the results are there for all to see.



Several players have raised their game, stepping up to the crease when the team needed it most. Pathum Nissanka blazed his name into the record books with the first-ever double hundred by a Sri Lankan in ODIs, while skipper Charith Asalanka became the rock in the middle order, often pulling the team out of the fire with match-winning knocks. Maheesh Theekshana has spun a web around opponents to top the bowling charts, claiming the number one spot in ODIs.

Meanwhile, Wanindu Hasaranga continues to be Sri Lanka’s golden goose – topping the all-rounder rankings and being hot property across franchise leagues worldwide. In the T20 arena, the islanders have also upped the ante, climbing to seventh in the rankings and leaving Asian rivals Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan in their slipstream. Once champions of the shortest format, Sri Lanka now look like a team finding their groove again.

In Tests, too, there’s steady progress, with the team now placed sixth – a sign that the rebuilding phase is finally bearing fruit. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has rolled out the itinerary for the upcoming home series against Bangladesh. The bilateral contest kicks off with two Tests, the first at the picturesque Galle International Stadium from June 17, followed by the second Test at SSC starting June 25.

The ODI leg begins in Colombo on July 2, with the capital hosting the first two matches. The series then moves to Pallekele for the final one-dayer. Kandy will set the stage for the opening T20I, before the caravan heads to Dambulla for the second.

The third and final T20I will be played in Colombo, wrapping up what promises to be a closely-fought series. From being down and nearly out, Sri Lanka have now thrown their hat back in the ring across all formats – and if this upward trajectory continues, the islanders might just be scripting another golden chapter in their cricketing folklore..