Five Teams Compete in Lanka Premier League

Five Teams Compete in Lanka Premier League

Source:Thuppahis

The 2026 Lanka Premier League (LPL) features five competing franchises: the Colombo Kaps, Dambulla Sixers, Galle Titans (previously known as the Gallants), Jaffna Kings, and Kandy Royals. [1, 2, 3, 4]

The sixth edition of the Lanka Premier League will see the defending champions Jaffna Kings facing the runner-up Galle Gallants in the opening game at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. A total of 20 matches will be played in the league stage before the playoffs begin on August 5, with the final scheduled on August 8.

Vijay Shankar, who recently retired from Indian domestic cricket and the IPL, is set for his maiden stint in the LPL. He will represent Kandy Royals, who will be led by Angelo Mathews. The team got a major boost earlier this week when Shaheen Shah Afridi got his NOC from the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Colombo Kaps has signed up Ben McDermott, Kamindu Mendis, James Neesham and Mujeeb Ur Rahman among others. They will be led by Kusal Mendis.

Dambulla Sixers, led by Dinesh Chandimal, have the likes of Reeza Hendricks, Sahibzada Farhan, and Gulbadin Naib in their squad. The team also boasts of a strong bowling attack led by Dushmantha Chameera, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Akila Dananjaya and Maheesh Theekshana.

Dasun Shanaka, who has led Sri Lanka in T20Is, is the captain of Galle Gallants. Explosive batters like Sam Harper, Litton Das and Charith Asalanka are part of their batting line-up. They also have the likes of Chamika Karunaratne, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mohammad Nawaz who can contribute to the team’s cause in all the facets of the game.

Jaffna Kings, who won the previous LPL edition in 2024, will be led by Bhanuka Rajapaksa. The team has signed one of the best T20 all-rounders in Shakib Al Hasan while Ibrahim Zadran, Sandeep Lamichhane, David Wiese and Taskin Ahmed are some of the overseas stars in their squad.

LPL 2026: Full squads and team captains

Colombo Kaps: Kusal Mendis (c), Kushal Bhurtel, Thanuka Dabare, Ben McDermott, Mohammad Haris, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sharujan Shanmuganathan, Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, James Neesham, Wanuja Sahan, Movin Subasingha, Malsha Tharupathi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Binura Fernando, Hasan Mahmud, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Arul Pragasam, Milan Rathnayeke, Jeffrey Vandersay

Dambulla Sixers: Dinesh Chandimal (c), Niroshan Dickwella, Reeza Hendricks, Pavan Rathnayake, Sahibzada Farhan, Akila Dananjaya, Dian Forrester, Gulbadin Naib, Sachitha Jayatilake, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Ramesh Mendis, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Gayana Weerasinghe, Dushmantha Chameera, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mohammad Wasim, Maheesh Theekshana, Vishwa Lahiru

Galle Gallants: Dasun Shanaka (c), Lasith Croospulle, Haider Ali, Sam Harper, Litton Das, Rassie van der Dussen, Sahan Arachchige, Charith Asalanka, Dinura Kalupahana, Chamika Karunaratne, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mohammad Nawaz, Tharindu Ratnayake, Akif Javed, Sachindu Colombage, Yuri Koththigoda, Eshan Malinga, Pramod Madushan, Kasun Rajitha, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth

Jaffna Kings: Bhanuka Rajapaksa (c), Avishka Fernando, Nishan Fernando, Nuwanidu Fernando, Ibrahim Zadran, Kamil Mishara, Dipendra Singh Airee, Shakib Al Hasan, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, David Wiese, Sandeep Lamichhane, Dilshan Madushanka, Traveen Mathew, Taskin Ahmed, Kugathas Mathulan, Mohamed Shiraz, Dunith Wellalage, Lizaad Williams, Praveen Maneesha

Kandy Royals: Angelo Mathews (c), Pawan Sandesh, Lahiru Udara, Muditha Lakshan, Kusal Perera, Dale Phillips, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Moeen Ali, Vishen Halambage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushan Hemantha, Brandon McMullen, Daniel Sams, Vijay Shankar, Isitha Wijesundara, Shaheen Afridi, Asitha Fernando, Garuka Sanketh, Nuwan Thushara, Zahir Khan, Sahan Mahira

Image Credit: Lanka Premier League