Sri Lanka Cricket has officially confirmed the appointment of R. Sridhar as the national team’s new fielding coach. A move aimed at raising the team’s standards ahead of a crucial global event. Sridhar’s contract will run until the conclusion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
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It is scheduled to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. His role officially began on December 11 and will continue until shortly after the tournament ends on March 10. The appointment brings a highly experienced and respected coach into Sri Lanka’s setup at an important time. He previously served as India’s fielding coach from 2014 to 2021, a period during which the Indian team earned a reputation.
As one of the sharpest and most athletic fielding units in international cricket. During that seven-year stint, Sridhar worked across more than 300 international matches, including two ODI World Cups and two T20 World Cups.
In his new role, Sridhar will focus on improving Sri Lanka’s overall fielding culture, standards, and consistency across all formats. With a strong emphasis on the shorter format leading into the T20 World Cup.
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T20 World Cup: Focus on Fielding Under Pressure Ahead of 2026
He is expected to work closely with the national squad during the upcoming tours of Pakistan and England. Fielding under pressure and in challenging conditions will be a key area of focus. After those tours, his attention will shift fully towards long-term preparation and fine-tuning ahead of the 2026 global tournament.
Speaking after his appointment, Sridhar highlighted his admiration for Sri Lankan cricket and its long-standing traditions. He noted that Sri Lankan players have always been known for their natural flair, quick reflexes, and resilience, qualities that can set them apart on the international stage.
Rather than imposing rigid systems or one-size-fits-all methods, Sridhar stressed that his philosophy is about creating the right environment. He believes that when players feel confident, connected, and motivated, qualities such as athleticism, awareness, and pride in fielding develop naturally.
This role also represents a return to familiar territory for Sridhar. Earlier this year, he conducted a 10-day specialised fielding camp at Sri Lanka Cricket’s National High-Performance Centre in May. That program initially involved the national men’s team before being extended to other squads within the system.
During the camp, Sridhar oversaw a wide range of intensive fielding drills, skill-specific sessions. And simulated match scenarios designed to closely mirror real-game situations. Throughout the camp, Sridhar worked closely with Sri Lanka’s national, high-performance, and club-level coaches.
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T20 World Cup Final: Enhancing Sri Lanka’s Natural Fielding Strengths
Ensuring that ideas and methods were shared across the wider cricketing structure. The focus was not only on technical improvement, but also on mindset, anticipation, communication, and teamwork in the field. These elements are seen as critical for building a strong and sustainable fielding culture across all levels of Sri Lankan cricket.
Elaborating on his approach, Sridhar emphasised the importance of realism and connection in training. He explained that fielding improves most when players feel connected to the ball, to each other, and to the moment.
According to him, Sri Lanka’s traditional strengths are quick hands, sharp reflexes. And fearless intent can be taken to an even higher level by consistently training in game-like environments that replicate pressure, pace, and unpredictability.
In addition to his work with India and Sri Lanka, Sridhar has also gained experience with other international teams. Last year, he had a brief coaching stint with Afghanistan, where he was appointed assistant coach for their one-off Test match against New Zealand in Noida.
As well as the three-match ODI series against South Africa in September. That experience further added to his understanding of working with diverse squads and adapting coaching methods to different cricketing cultures.
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