Sri Lanka will take on Pakistan in the 1st T20I of the Sri Lanka vs Pakistan T20I Series 2025.
This series is very important as both teams are in the final preparation phase for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
The opening match will be played at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, where spin and smart bowling usually play a big role.
Match Details
| Match | SL vs PAK, 1st T20I |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Sri Lanka vs Pakistan T20I Series 2025 |
| Date | 7 January 2026 (Wednesday) |
| Time | 7:00 PM IST |
| Venue | Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla |
Head-to-Head Record (T20Is)
| Team | Matches Won |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 11 |
| Pakistan | 16 |
| No Result | 0 |
Pakistan have a slight edge in overall T20I meetings.
Recent Form (Last 5 Matches)
| Team | Recent Results |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | L, L, W, W, L |
| Pakistan | W, W, W, L, W |
Pakistan look more consistent coming into this match.
Pitch & Weather Report – Dambulla
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Pace-friendly early, helps spinners later |
| Best For | Fast bowlers & spinners |
| Chasing Record | Good |
| Winning % (Chasing) | 56% |
Weather Report
- Temperature: 24–26°C
- Humidity: 65–70%
- Rain: 10% chance
Conditions are expected to be good for a full match.
Dambulla T20I Ground Stats
| Record | Data |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 27 |
| Bat First Wins | 12 |
| Bat Second Wins | 15 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 143 |
| Highest Score | 209/5 |
| Lowest Score | 40 all out |
Predicted Playing XI
Sri Lanka
- Pathum Nissanka
- Kusal Mendis (wk)
- Kusal Perera
- Charith Asalanka
- Dasun Shanaka
- Wanindu Hasaranga
- Kamindu Mendis
- Maheesh Theekshana
- Eshan Malinga
- Matheesha Pathirana
- Dushmantha Chameera
Pakistan
- Sahibzada Farhan
- Saim Ayub
- Fakhar Zaman
- Shadab Khan
- Salman Agha (c)
- Usman Khan (wk)
- Abdul Samad
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Faheem Ashraf
- Naseem Shah
- Mohammad Wasim Jr.
Dream11 Fantasy Tips
Small League (Safe Picks)
Captain / Vice-Captain Options
- Pathum Nissanka
- Saim Ayub
- Sahibzada Farhan
- Dasun Shanaka
Grand League (Risky Picks)
Captain / Vice-Captain Options
- Wanindu Hasaranga
- Shadab Khan
- Kusal Mendis
- Abrar Ahmed
Dream11 Match Prediction – Who Will Win?
Both teams are mainly focused on testing combinations and adjusting to local conditions before the T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka will enjoy home advantage, especially on spin-friendly surfaces like Dambulla.
However, Pakistan have built a strong spin and pace attack over the past year. Players like Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, and Saim Ayub give them balance, while Naseem Shah and Wasim Jr. strengthen their bowling.
Sri Lanka have experienced players, but Pakistan look slightly more settled as a T20 unit.
Match Winner Prediction:
Pakistan are favorites to win the 1st T20I.
Injury Updates
| Team | Injury Status |
|---|---|
| Pakistan | No injury updates |
| Sri Lanka | No injury updates |
Disclaimer
Fantasy sports involve financial risk and may be addictive. Please play responsibly and at your own discretion. We do not promote or encourage gambling.
