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After a year’s absence, the Lanka Premier League returns to action for the 2026 season, with Galle Gallants taking on the Jaffna Kings in the opening match at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.
First launched in 2020, the Jaffna-based franchise are the most successful side in the history of the tournament, winning in four out of the five seasons. This includes beating the Galle franchise thrice, including in 2024 when Rilee Rossouw scored an unbeaten 106 in the final.
The Kings gear up for a brand new season with a new-look side comprising a decent balance between Sri Lankan regulars and international players with a plethora of experience in T20 cricket.
Jaffna Kings’ top-order is dominated by two Sri Lankan stars along with the experienced Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran. Avishka Fernando was recently seen competing in the Tri-Nations series with Sri Lanka A. The right-handed batter had a great series, scoring two hundreds, both against Afghanistan A. Bhanuka Rajapaksa, on the other hand, has not featured in a professional game since January 2026, so might come in a little underprepared for the new season.
Bangladesh great Shakib Al Hasan leads Jaffna Kings’ middle order. The spin-bowling all-rounder recently applied his trait in Major League Cricket for MI New York. He is Jaffna Kings’ most experienced T20 player, with nearly 8,000 runs in the format and 510 wickets to his name. He will be joined in the middle by Dunith Wellalage. The 23-year-old is slowly establishing himself as a handy lower-order batter capable of scoring quick-fire runs.
Jaffna Kings could field two overseas bowlers in the playing XI, in David Wiese and Bangladesh’s Taskin Ahmed. However, Dilshan Madushanka remains their primary new-ball bowler, thanks to a decent run in international cricket of late. He took five wickets from four matches in the 2026 T20 World Cup, which included a three-wicket haul against Pakistan. Kugathas Mathulan, meanwhile, is a 19-year-old medium pacer who has yet to play a professional T20 match. He did, however, have a great Tri-Nations series, ending with eight wickets and Sri Lanka A’s highest wicket-taker.
Jaffna Kings: Avishka Fernando, Ibrahim Zadran, Bhanuka Rajapaksa (C), Shakib Al Hasan, Nishan Fernando (WK), Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Dunith Wellalage, David Wiese, Taskin Ahmed, Dilshan Madushanka, Kugathas Mathulan.
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When and where will the England vs India match be played?
The match will take place on July 14, 2026, at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham, starting at 3:30 PM (IST).
Which players could make a difference in this clash?
For Jaffna Kings, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Dunith Wellalage will be key.
Which team has the edge going into this game?
Based on recent history, expect a close battle between the two sides, with Jaffna Kings edging out Galle Gallants in the first match of the 2026 LPL.a
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