World T20 guide: Sri Lanka

2007: Group stage

2009: Runners-up (lost to Pakistan by eight wickets)

2010: Semi-final (lost to England by seven wickets)

2012: Runners-up (lost to West Indies by 36 runs)

2014: Winners (defeated India by six wickets)

Sri Lanka have a tremendous record at the World Twenty20. After losses in the finals of 2009 and 2012, they overcame India in 2014 to take out the title in Bangladesh. The victory was a big moment for the small-island nation, who have a strong record at major tournaments. It was a fairy-tale finish for batting greats Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara, who both retired from T20 Internationals after the 2014 victory. But the pair have left a gaping hole in Sri Lanka’s batting order for this year’s edition of the tournament, and with an injury cloud hanging over fast-bowler Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka face a tough task to maintain their superb record.

Highest-ever run-scorer:  Tillakaratne Dilshan, 1751 runs @ 28.24, SR: 120.50. HS: 104*.

Highest-ever wicket-taker:  Lasith Malinga, 78 wickets @ 20.28, econ: 7.26, BB: 5/31.

Best-ever XI: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara (c), Mahela Jayawardene, Angelo Matthews, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Rangana Herath (12^th man).

Recent form

Since the 2014 World T20: Played 14, won four, lost ten.

Since winning the last WT20, Sri Lanka have struggled in the shortest format. After notching a win in a one-off T20 against England in 2014, Sri Lanka won just two out of a possible nine matches. They managed to defeat the United Arab Emirates in their first match of the recent Asia Cup before losing to Bangladesh as well as India and Pakistan. A staggering 27 different players have been used over this nearly two-year period and question marks remain over Sri Lanka’s best XI for this tournament.

2016 WT20 Squad: Angelo Mathews (c), Dushmantha Chameera, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Niroshan Dickwella, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Rangana Herath, Shehan Jayasuriya, Chamara Kapugedara, Nuwan Kulasekera, Lasith Malinga, Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake, Dasun Shanaka, Milinda Siriwardena, Jeffrey Vandersay

Player to watch

Tillakaratne Dilshan, who turns 40 later this year, will be absolutely crucial to Sri Lanka’s chances at this WT20 and it could be the last time we see him at a major international tournament. Although he hasn’t received the same attention as Jayawadena and Sangakkara, Dilshan is one of the finest white-ball batsmen of his generation. He is the second leading all-time run-scorer in T20 Internationals (behind retired Black Cap Brendon McCullum) and will forever be known as the inventor of the ‘Dilscoop’, a shot now adopted by many leading T20 batsmen. In a squad that has a lot of new faces, Sri Lanka will need a couple of big innings from Dilshan at the top of their order if they are to progress from the group stage. But if you fancy fantastic facial hair more than free-scoring, you’re in luck: Dilshan is sporting a striped goatee for the tournament, further enhancing his reputation as one cricket’s trend-setters.

Prediction

Days before their opening match against Pakistan, Sri Lanka’s bowlers were pummelled by New Zealand’s batsman to all parts of Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in a warm-up match. The Black Caps racked up 5-226 from their 20 overs and Sri Lanka could only muster 7-152 in reply. The result is a worrying sign for the defending World T20 champions. While a good chunk of the 2014 title-winning team remains – the likes of Dilshan, captain Angelo Mathews and spinners Sachithra Senanayake and Ajantha Mendis among them – their side looks fragile this time around. In order to progress past the Super10s stage, where they will face South Africa, qualifiers Afghanistan, the West Indies and England, Sri Lanka will need these experienced players to lead the way. With Lasith Malinga, a devastating T20 bowler at his best, stepping down from the captaincy as he battles an ongoing knee injury, they may also need their other seamers (quick Nuwan Kulasekara and explosive all-rounder Thisara Perara in particular) to step up in his absence.