The spotlight shifts to Colombo as Sri Lanka and Ireland clash in the sixth match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium. This Group Stage encounter pits a host nation desperate for redemption against an Associate side hunting for a landmark victory.
Sri Lanka enters the tournament on the back of a bruising 3-0 home series whitewash against England, leaving visible scars and pressing questions about their balance. However, history offers them solace; they have a perfect 3-0 T20I record against Ireland.
For the Irish, this is a prime opportunity to rewrite history and secure a maiden win against the Lions in their own den, buoyed by a recent series win over Italy. While Sri Lanka, with home advantage and superior spin resources, are the expected favorites, Ireland’s batters in form present a genuine threat, setting the stage for a compelling contest under Colombo’s cloudy skies.
Sri Lanka vs Ireland Win Probability
RCBW vs DCW Batting Tips
SL vs IRE, Group B T20 World Cup 2026 6th Match Details
| Match | ICC T20 World Cup 2026, 6th Match, Group B |
| Date | Sunday, February 08, 2026 |
| Time | 07:00 PM (IST) |
| Venue | R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo |
| Live Streaming (TV) | Star Sports Network |
| Live Streaming (Mobile) | JioHotstar |
SL vs IRE Team Form Guide – Who Will Win Today’s Match?
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s World Cup buildup has been concerning, marked by a recent streak of L, L, L, W, L. Their 3-0 defeat to England exposed frailties in both batting consistency and bowling potency.
Key strengths lie in their spin trio of Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, and Dunith Wellalage, who are expected to dominate on home turf. The pace of Dushmantha Chameera (13 wickets in 7 games this season) is also a major asset.
The psychological edge comes from playing at home and their unbeaten record against this opponent, but they need players like Kusal Mendis (95 runs vs England) and Hasaranga to find top form instantly.
Ireland
Ireland’s form reads a more encouraging W, W, L, W, W, including a 2-1 series win over Italy.
Their key positive is a batting unit showing good touch. Harry Tector (259 runs in 8 matches at avg. 43.5) and the experienced Paul Stirling are in fine nick. The bowling will rely on Mark Adair and Matthew Humphreys, who shared 11 wickets against Italy. Their challenge is monumental: adapting quickly to slow, turning Sri Lankan pitches which are a world away from their recent conditions, and overcoming a significant historical psychological barrier against this opponent.
SL vs IRE Probable Playing XI
SL Probable Playing XI-
Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (WK), Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (C), Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana.
IRE Probable Playing XI-
Paul Stirling (C), Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Ben Calitz, Lorcan Tucker (WK), George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys, Craig Young / Ben White.
SL vs IRE Head-to-Head Record (T20Is)
| Total Match Played | 05 |
| SL Won | 05 |
| IRE Won | 00 |
| Draw/No Result | 00 |
SL vs IRE Pitch Report
The R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo typically offers a slow and balanced surface. Batting requires patience and good timing, as the pitch tends to slow down further as the match progresses. Spin bowling is highly effective, with bowlers often prioritizing economy and turn. Pace bowlers find more success with cutters and variations rather than raw speed. A score of 160-170 is considered competitive, with the highest recent total being 173. The last five T20Is here have all been won by the team chasing.
SL vs IRE Weather Report
The forecast predicts overcast conditions with a 100% cloud cover. There is a chance of afternoon showers which could delay the start or lead to a truncated match. Conditions are expected to improve later in the evening. The weather heavily influences the toss decision and could introduce the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method into play.
SL vs IRE Toss Prediction
The captain winning the toss is highly likely to choose to bowl first. This decision is driven by two key factors: 1) The strong trend of five consecutive wins for the chasing side at this venue, and 2) The overcast conditions and rain threat, which would give seam bowlers an early advantage and make chasing a target (potentially revised by DLS) a simpler task.
SL vs IRE Match Prediction
Despite their recent poor form, Sri Lanka’s strengths align perfectly with the home conditions. Their world-class spin attack is poised to exploit Ireland’s relative inexperience on slow, turning tracks. While Ireland’s in-form batters, particularly Harry Tector and Paul Stirling, pose a threat, the overall gulf in familiarity with the conditions and the historical head-to-head dominance tips the scale decisively in Sri Lanka’s favor. For an upset to occur, Ireland’s top order would need to have an exceptional day against spin and their bowlers would need to restrict a volatile but talented Lankan batting lineup; a tall order in Colombo.
Sri Lanka are our picks to win this match.
SL vs IRE Dream11 Team Tips
- Wicketkeeper: Kusal Mendis, Lorcan Tucker
- Batters: Pathum Nissanka, Harry Tector, Paul Stirling
- All-rounders: Wanindu Hasaranga, Dasun Shanaka, Gareth Delany
- Bowlers: Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Mark Adair
Captain (C) Pick- Wanindu Hasaranga, Gareth Delany
Vice-Captain (VC) Pick- Harry Tector, Pathum Nissanka.
