Last Updated:
Sanath Jayasuriya has changed the trajectory of Sri Lankan men’s cricket, with many memorable wins since 2024.
Sanath Jayasuriya is Sri Lanka’s Head Coach. (Image: AFP)
Having taken over as Sri Lanka’s full-time head coach two months back, Sanath Jayasuriya has already done an impressive job. Jayasuriya was chosen as the interim coach following Chris Silverwood’s resignation in June last year after Sri Lanka failed to qualify for the Super 8s of the 2024 men’s T20 World Cup.
With Jayasuriya at the helm, Sri Lanka recorded a series of positive performances. This included a 2-0 Test series win against New Zealand, a 2-0 ODI series victory against India and a historic away Test win against England. Most recently, the side secured a seven-run win in the third T20I against New Zealand to avoid a clean sweep and end the series 2-1 in the Kiwis’ favor.
“I have given players a lot of confidence for them to come up and play their natural game. That’s a very important area for me to look at because I don’t want to put them under unnecessary pressure,” Jayasuriya was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times about his coaching stint.
“They’ve been involved right from when I became a coach, so I consider myself very lucky. Whenever I required them to do anything involving the players, Sanga and Malinga turned up. Their international experience coming through to these boys is crucial,” Jayasuriya added.
Sri Lanka batted first in the third T20I and rode on Kusal Perera’s 101 (46) to put up a massive 218/5. New Zealand chased valiantly, with Rachin Ravindra scoring 69 (39) and Daryl Mitchell putting up 35 (17) but eventually fell short by seven runs. Skipper Charith Asalanka took 3/50 with the ball.
Jayasuriya was confirmed as the permanent head coach on October 7 last year. The former national captain’s first series as the full-time head coach of Sri Lanka was against the West Indies.
Jayasuriya featured in 110 Tests, 445 ODIs, and 31 T20Is for Sri Lanka. The 55-year-old played a key role in Sri Lanka’s only ICC Cricket World Cup victory in 1996. He scored 42 centuries and took 440 wickets across all three formats in international cricket.
Under him, Sri Lanka will now aim to win the three-ODI series against the Kiwis, which begins on January 5. The Lankans haven’t qualified for the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the UAE.
