Sri Lanka Cricket appoints R Sridhar as fielding coach until T20 World Cup 2026

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has strengthened its coaching setup ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 by appointing Indian coach R. Sridhar as the national team’s fielding coach. Sridhar’s tenure will run from December 11, 2025, until the completion of the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 9. 

Historically, Sri Lanka is known for their athleticism and brilliance in the field, has shown flashes of skills but has lacked consistency in recent years. With the World Cup at home and just months away, SLC has opted for a short-term appointment to address this area. Sridhar, a BCCI Level 3 qualified coach, brings immense international experience, having served as India’s men’s team fielding coach from 2014 to 2021, covering over 300 international matches. More recently, he worked as a consultant with Afghanistan.

Sridhar will immediately integrate into Sri Lanka’s coaching group and will be part of the setup for the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan and England. His contract, though limited to three months, is designed to deliver quick improvements through targeted interventions and high-intensity training.

Sri Lankan players have always stood for instinctive brilliance: Sridhar

Importantly, he is not new to Sri Lankan cricket. Earlier this year, he conducted a 10-day specialised fielding programme at the National High Performance Centre, giving him familiarity with the players, facilities, and overall cricketing culture.

Speaking after his appointment, Sridhar stated that his approach would be collaborative rather than rigid. He revealed that Sri Lankan players have always shown instinctive brilliance.

“Sri Lankan players have always stood for instinctive brilliance, resilience, and collective spirit. My role is not to impose a system, but to nurture an environment where athleticism, awareness, and pride in the field can grow naturally. Fielding thrives when players feel connected to the ball, to each other, and to the moment. Sri Lanka’s traditional strengths – quick hands, sharp reflexes, and fearless intent- can be further enhanced by creating realistic, game-like learning environments,” Sridhar was quoted as saying by an SLC release. 

The 55-year-old joins a coaching group that already includes Julian Wood, spin specialist Rene Ferdinands, with former captain Sanath Jayasuriya continuing as head coach.