Why Kusal Mendis is Not Playing Today in PAK vs SL T20 World Cup Match 2026?

Pakistan face Sri Lanka in a must-win Super 8 clash of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. The contest is being held at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, the home ground of the Lankan team. A win today would help the Men in Green secure their spot in the semi-final, but it has to come by a big margin of 61 runs, while a loss would directly eliminate them from the tournament. On the other hand, Sri Lanka is already knocked out of the tournament and is bowling first today to save their pride. They have made a huge change by resting their star player, Kusal Mendis. Is this a tactical change or forced injury change, check out below in this article

Why Kusal Mendis is Not Playing Today against Pakistan?

Sri Lanka's wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis has been snubbed from the SL vs PAK T20 World Cup match 2026. The reason behind his exclusion was revealed by the skipper, Dasun Shanka, himself during the toss. Mendis has sustained an injury, which is why he misses out today. Kamil Mishara has been added to the playing XI as Kusal Mendis replacement for the match.

Kusal Mendis's performance in T20 World Cup 2026

One of the most experienced batters, Kusal Mendis, is undoubtedly one of the best Sri Lankan batters in the shortest format of the game. The right-handed batter has played six matches in the ongoing tournament, scoring 197 runs at an impressive average of 39.40. He has also registered three half-centuries. However, the main concern around his performances has been his strike rate.

Although Mendis scored consistently, his strike rate of 114.53 has raised questions about his impact in T20 cricket. Had he scored at a quicker pace or provided more aggressive starts during the Super 8 stage, the situation might have been much better for the Island nation.