Sri Lanka appointed Gary Kirsten as head coach of the men’s team on a two-year contract starting April 15, with the former India coach set to lead preparations for the 2027 World Cup.
Sri Lanka Cricket has appointed Gary Kirsten as head coach of the national men’s team. The former South Africa international will begin his role on April 15, 2026. The contract will run for 2 years.
Kirsten brings vast coaching experience to the role. He guided India to the ICC Cricket World Cup title in 2011. He later coached South Africa between 2011 and 2013. During that period, South Africa reached the No.1 position in all formats in 2013.
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His most recent role came during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Kirsten worked as a consultant with Namibia. Before coaching, Kirsten enjoyed a successful international career from 1993 to 2004. He scored more than 14,000 international runs, including 21 Test centuries and 13 ODI hundreds.
He takes over after the end of Sanath Jayasuriya’s coaching stint. Jayasuriya first stepped in as interim coach in July 2024 after Chris Silverwood resigned. Sri Lanka Cricket later confirmed him as a full-time coach from October 1, 2024, to March 31, 2026.
However, Sri Lanka’s campaign in the T20 World Cup 2026 ended in disappointment. The team reached the Super Eight stage but lost all 3 matches and finished last in their group. Jayasuriya decided the tournament would be his final assignment as coach.
Gary Kirsten will now lead Sri Lanka’s preparations for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.
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