Sri Lanka is a very promising cricketing nation. The number of talented cricketers the nation has produced is immense. Players like Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Lasith Malinga and Mahela Jayawardene are some of the finest products of the nation. In the modern-day cricket, players like Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, and Charith Asalanka have taken over. This article is all about the batters of the nation who have performed in the shortest format. The T20 World Cups bring in a lot of excitement and joy to the fans worldwide. The intense drama and World Cup upsets bind the fans together. As far as Sri Lankan batters are concerned, they have immensely haleped their nation to win the Cup in 2014. Let’s have a look at the top 10 batters with the most runs for Sir Lankan in the T20 World Cups.
1. Mahela Jayawardene
Mahela Jayawardene was a former skipper and a right-handed top-order batter for Sri Lanka across formats. One of the finest Sri Lankan’s to ever don the nation’s jersey, Jayawardene was a batter of pure class. His quality stroke play left many in awe. The inspiring icon of the Sri Lankan cricket has contributed immensely to his nation. Be it any format, the batter has stepped up for his team in the toughest situations. One of the few batters t score a century in the final of the World Cup, Mahela scored a ton against India in 2011. He has scored 1016 runs in the T20 World Cups at an average of 39.07.
2. Tillakaratne Dilshan
TM Dilshan was one of the prolific Sri Lankan batters. His presence in the team would boost the confidence and stability of the team. An opening batter who could bowl off-break as well, Dilshan was the inventor of the ‘Dil Scoop,’ a shot he played quite often to the fast bowlers over the wicketkeeper’s head. He also led the team in a few series and tournaments. Dilshan played 33 innings in the T20 World Cups and scored 897 runs. The batter retired from the format in 2016 after scoring 1889 T20I runs.
3. Kumar Sangakkara
The most elegant left-handed batter to ever represent Sri Lanka, Kumar Sangakkara, was a former top-order batter across formats. He was also a former skipper for his nation ana led Sri Lanka to many famous victories. The batter also scored a valiant half century in the finals of the World Cup against India in 2011. Sangakkara was also among the best wicketkeepers in the world. He took some splendid catches and affected brilliant stumpings behind the wicket. Sangakkara scored 661 runs in 30 innings in the T20 WCs.
4. Angelo Mathews
Angelo is one of the Sri Lankan players with the longest of careers. The right-arm medium bowler and a middle-order batter was also a former skipper of his nation across formats. Mathews is the most experienced player in the current Lankan side and has made great contributions for his team in all three departments. One of Sri Lanka’s best all-rounders, Mathews made his T20 World Cup debut in 2009. He last played the tournament in 2016 and has batted for 22 innings scoring 459 runs at an average of 38.25.
5. Pathum Nissanka
The young sensation from Sri Lanka has made his mark early in his career in the white-ball formats. The right-handed opening batter is one of the major contributors for his team in the last 8-10 months. He made his T20I debut against the West Indies in 2021 and gifted his nation a talented prospect to look forward to. The batter plays with an aggressive approach and likes to take on the bowlers early on in the innings. He has played fifteen innings in the T20 WCs and has scored 435 runs.
6. Charith Asalanka
The left-handed middle-order batter for Sri Lanka is one of the regular inclusions in the squad as far as white-ball formats are concerned. Asalanka made his debut in the shortest format against India in 2021 and established himself as a promising prospect. Asalanka is a clean striker of the ball and plays in the middle-order for his nation. He has played thirteen innings in the T20 World Cups and has scored 362 runs.
7. Sanath Jayasuriya
Sanath Jayasuriya was one of the most aggressive batters. The left-handed opening batter made his debut for Sri Lanka in the T20Is in 2006 against England. His attacking style of batting laid a strong foundation for his team and often worked in his nation’s favor. The batter was also a handy left-arm orthodox bowler and often bowled full quota of overs. Jayasuriya scored 346 runs in his T20 WC campaigns. The all-rounder represented his side in three World Cup editions from 2007 to 2010. The famous Sri Lankan player represented his nation for 21-long-years in the international cricket.
8. Bhanuka Rajapaksa
Another flamboyant left-handed batter for Sri Lanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, is a middle-order batter for his country in the white-ball formats. Known to dominate the bowling attack, Rajapaksa has a beautiful bat swing which allows him to dominate the opposition. he made his T20I debut against Pakistan in 2019 and established himself among the best players of the team. His ability to strike the ball clean is unmatched. Rajapaksa has scored 280 runs in 16 innings in the T20 World Cup.
9. Kusal Perera
The left-handed opening batter for Sri Lanka has been a prominent part of the squad in all the three formats. The southpaw made his T20I debut against Australia in 2013. He has the ability to give powerful starts to Sri Lanka and he has done it over the years. the batter has scored 248 runs in fourteen T20 WC innings.
10. Thisara Perera
Thisara Perera was again one of the most important players for Sri Lanka. The left-handed lower middle-order batter and a right-arm medium-fast bowler made immense contributions to the team. He has played seventeen innings for Sri Lanka in the T20 WCs and has scored 232 runs.
