Overview:
Sri Lanka enter this contest with the advantage of home conditions, a solid batting line-up, and a strong spin attack.
Sri Lanka and Ireland will open their ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaigns in Match 6, taking on each other at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 8.
Sri Lanka’s early exit from the 2024 group stages was a disappointment, but with conditions now in their favour, they will be looking to push further this time around.
Ireland have steadily developed into a competitive side, strengthened by experience from regular clashes with higher-ranked teams. Sri Lanka will be under the leadership of Dasun Shanaka, while Paul Stirling takes charge of Ireland.
SL vs IRE Match Details
| Fixture | SL vs IRE : 6th Match,T20World Cup 2026 |
| Date | February 8th, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Time | 7:00 PM IST |
| Toss time | 6:30 PM IST |
| Ground | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
Pitch Report
R. Premadasa Stadium has traditionally been a bowler-friendly ground, and the recent rainfall has likely slowed the pitch down further. The bounce could be uneven, giving spinners a significant advantage in these conditions.
SL vs IRE head-to-head records in T20I
Sri Lanka leads the head-to-head against Ireland, having won all three of their encounters.
| Matches Played | SL | IRE |
| 3 | 3 | 0 |
SL vs IRE Probable Best Performers
Key batter to watch out for: Pathum Nissanka
Pathum Nissanka will play a key role in the team’s batting unit, aiming to take full advantage of the home conditions. With over 2400 runs in 84 matches and a strike rate of 127.3, he’s been a reliable performer in T20Is.
Key bowler to watch out for: Wanindu Hasaranga
Wanindu Hasaranga will be the primary threat for Ireland in this encounter. With conditions expected to favour the spinners, the leg-spinner will be a vital cog in Sri Lanka’s plans for success.
SL vs IRE Match Prediction ICC T20 World Cup 2026
Sri Lanka enter this contest with the advantage of home conditions, a solid batting line-up, and a strong spin attack. While Ireland have a competitive team, they will need an extraordinary performance to take down the hosts, with the conditions heavily favouring spin.
SL vs IRE Probable XIs
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kamindu Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka (c), Maheesh Theekshana, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana, Dushmantha Chameera
Ireland: Paul Stirling (c), Lorcan Tucker (wk), Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Ben Calitz, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Josh Little