Sri Lanka Turn to Gary Kirsten as New Men’s Head Coach

Sri Lanka Cricket has appointed former South African opener Gary Kirsten as the new head coach of the Sri Lanka men’s national team, marking a major move to rebuild the side ahead of future global tournaments.

Kirsten will officially assume the role on April 15, 2026, after signing a two-year contract that runs until April 14, 2028. The appointment comes at a crucial time as Sri Lanka look to regain consistency following a disappointing campaign at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

World Cup-Winning Pedigree

The South African brings a wealth of coaching experience. He famously guided India national cricket team to the 2011 Cricket World Cup title, one of the most celebrated triumphs in Indian cricket history. Later, as coach of the South Africa national cricket team, he helped the Proteas rise to the No.1 ranking across all formats in 2013.

Most recently, Kirsten served as a consultant for Namibia national cricket team during the 2026 T20 World Cup, further expanding his international coaching portfolio.

Focus on the 2027 World Cup

According to Sri Lanka Cricket, Kirsten’s primary responsibility will be preparing the team for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027, which will be hosted by South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe. The board said his appointment is part of a broader effort to revamp the National High Performance Centre and build a clear roadmap for success.

Kirsten replaces Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya, who stepped down after the recent T20 World Cup campaign.

A Distinguished Playing Career

Before becoming a renowned coach, Kirsten enjoyed an outstanding international career with South Africa national cricket team between 1993 and 2004. He scored over 14,000 international runs, including 21 Test centuries and 13 ODI hundreds, establishing himself as one of South Africa’s most reliable batters.

With his proven coaching record and deep understanding of international cricket, Sri Lanka hope Kirsten can build a strong team culture and guide the island nation back to the top tier of world cricket.

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