LPL 2026: M3 – Colombo Kaps Predicted XI

The Colombo Kaps (CK) will play their first game of the 2026 Lanka Premier League (LPL 2026) when they take on the Galle Gallants in Match 3 at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo on Saturday, 18, as part of a doubleheader.

The Kaps will be looking to make a winning start to their 2026 campaign after assembling a strong squad during pre-season. The team from Sri Lanka’s capital city will be captained by Kusal Mendis in 2026. The squad includes star players like Kamindu Mendis, Jeffrey Vandersay and Sadeera Samarawickrama.

CK’s opponents, Galle Gallants, will be playing their second game of the new season after featuring in the opening game against Jaffna Kings.

Predicted XI for Colombo Kaps vs Galle Gallants:

Top Order: Kusal Mendis (c & wk), Ben McDermott, Kamindu Mendis

Two Sri Lankan stars form part of Colombo Kaps’ strong top order. Captain Kusal Mendis’ last franchise gig came during the 2026 Pakistan Super League, where he ended as the tournament’s second-highest run-getter, hitting 550 runs from 11 matches at a strike-rate of 168.19. The two Sri Lankans will be joined by Ben McDermott from Australia, who recently applied his trade for Lancashire in the 2026 T20 Blast.

Middle Order: Sadeera Samarawickrama, Janith Liyanage, Jimmy Neesham, Malsha Tharupathi

Domestic stars dominate CK’s middle order, with New Zealand’s Jimmy Neesham providing valuable experience. The left-handed batter was recently representing Glamorgan in the 2026 T20 Blast, where he bowled more than he batted. He will be joined by Sadeera Samarawickrama in the middle, who had a great outing in the recently concluded Tri-Nations Series for Sri Lanka A.

Bowlers: Jeffrey Vandersay, Binura Fernando, Hasan Mahmud, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman

The Colombo Kaps’ bowling could rely on overseas bowlers, in the form of Hasan Mahmud and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Like Neesham and McDermott, Mahmud also played in the T20 Blast, turning out for Kent for three matches. He has 116 wickets to his name, bowling at an economy rate of less than eight. Mujeeb, on the other hand, took eight wickets from five matches in the Shpageeza Cricket League.

Colombo Kaps: Kusal Mendis (c & wk), Ben McDermott, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Janith Liyanage, Jimmy Neesham, Malsha Tharupathi, Jeffrey Vandersay, Binura Fernando, Hasan Mahmud, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman

FAQs

When and where will the Colombo Kaps vs Galle Gallants match be played?

The match will take place on July 18, 2026, at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, starting at 7:30 PM (IST).

Which players could make a difference in this clash?

For Jaffna Kings, Kamindu Mendis and Mujeeb Ur Rahman will be key.

Which team has the edge going into this game?

Since it is the opening stages of the season, it is tough to call a winner, but the team chasing should have the edge, based on the conditions.