Sri Lanka to tour West Indies from June 3, IPL 2026 could miss out on key players

Sri Lanka Cricket has confirmed the dates for the team’s tour to West Indies just after IPL 2026 in June. The three-match T20I and ODI series, and a two-match Test series will get underway in just a few days after the IPL 2026 final. This means that some teams like DC, SRH could miss out on the services of some SL players if they make it to the playoffs, as the final four games of the Indian Premier League is scheduled to be held after May 24.

Sri Lanka’s tour of West Indies confirmed

Sri Lanka will tour West Indies for a three-match T20I and ODI series which will begin from June 3. This will be followed by a 4-day warm-up game and then a 2-match Test series from June 18. Multiple SL stars, including Pathum Nissanka, Ehsan Malinga, Dasun Shanaka among others, who are regulars in the Sri Lankan team across formats, are a part of IPL 2026. The tour to West Indies could very well mean that these stars may not be a part of the IPL 2026 playoffs, should RR, DC and SRH among others make it. In that case, the teams will be tasked with finding replacements in the last minute.

Nissanka has been a regular opener for DC while Chameera has hardly been used by the side. Kamindu Mendis and Ehsan Malinga are a pat of SRH while Nuwan Thushara is a part of RCB. Matheesha Pathirana, one of Sri Lanka’s top bowlers in T20Is who sustained an injury before the T20 World Cup, is a part of KKR but is yet to play a game.

With RR and SRH all but certain to make it to the IPL 2026 playoffs, and DC in the race, it remains to be seen how these teams will handle the departure of these crucial stars before the final stages of IPL 2026.

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