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Out of nowhere, as Sri Lanka’s female cricketers were putting the last touches on their plans for the 2026 T20 World Cup, trouble arrived. Shashini Gimhani – only seventeen, known for bowling with both hands – had been set to shine among the youngest standouts at the event, yet now won’t play. The reason? A back problem that showed up mid-practice, pulling her from contention just before competition heats up.
Now things look different for Sri Lanka’s bowlers as they step into a tough stretch of games. Hosts England await. So do reigning title holders New Zealand, along with the West Indies, Ireland, and Scotland. This shift comes just as fans tracking matches through Khelosports notice fresh changes taking shape.
Gimhani stands apart from most players who swing a bat. From Rathgama, where waves roll close to homes, came another name alongside Malinga’s. Instead of following footsteps, she shaped her own trail through quiet determination. Her edge? Delivering wrist-spin with either arm – left or right – as naturally as breathing. Few have managed such balance; some mention Mendis, others recall Adams’ odd stance and clever turns. Yet hers feels different, built not on mimicry but instinct.
That match versus Malaysia lit a spark – Gimhani took three wickets while giving away only nine runs across four tight overs. Fifteen years and 144 days old at debut, she stepped onto the field as Sri Lanka’s youngest ever T20 international. Six wickets total followed in seven outings, each measured by a lean economy rate of 7.05. The tournament spotlight found her during the Women’s Asia Cup, where silence turned into swing.
A teenage bowler once stunned fans during the ICC Under-19 World Cup by switching hands mid-over, tossing deliveries with both left and right arms in one go against India. That quick shift lit up social media, spreading fast online. Her name popped up everywhere after that play, marking a bold first impression worldwide.
Sri Lanka's ambidextrous spinner Shashini Gimhani will miss the T20 World Cup after picking up a back injury in training. She has been replaced by right-arm seamer Chethana Vimukthi https://t.co/NvA8FuXeDX
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 5, 2026
A fresh face joins the team – Chethana Vimukthi, a 24-year-old fast bowler with a sharp edge to her game. Though she hasn’t debuted in T20 Internationals yet, time on the field counts too; those three ODIs versus New Zealand back in March 2025 taught her more than numbers show.
Out of nowhere, swapping a wrist-spinner for a seamer shakes up Sri Lanka’s bowling setup. Now Chamari Athapaththu leans harder on the spin she still has – Sugandika Dassanayake and Kavisha Dilhari hold that line. Meanwhile, pace gets a twist through Vimukthi joining in.
Amid this uncertainty, recent on-field performances have served as a reminder of cricket’s ability to shift narratives through sheer excellence. Jacob Bethell’s Ashes heroics in Sydney, which played a crucial role in England’s fightback, showcased how individual brilliance can momentarily rise above off-field tensions and refocus attention on the game itself.
Jacob Bethell’s Ashes Heroics Ignite England Fightback in Sydney
That first game on June 12 takes place at Edgbaston in Birmingham, where Sri Lanka meet host nation England – a tough start by any measure. Arriving in England on June 2, they spend some days settling before jumping into action. Two practice games come up first: one versus Pakistan on June 6, then another against the Netherlands four days later on the ninth.
Just when things were looking up, fate turned harsh on Gimhani. Expected to unsettle rival batters, she wasn’t just another young talent – she brought confusion they hadn’t faced before. Because one moment she’d bowl normally, then suddenly reverse grip mid-action, leaving hitters guessing too late. That unpredictability? It had become her quiet strength.
Out of nowhere, just ahead of the first match, Athapaththu’s squad takes a hard hit with the loss of a player few can replace. Though progress has been clear lately, this twist forces quick thinking – Vimukthi must step into the T20 spotlight sooner than expected.
Without Gimhani, Sri Lanka feels it – so does the game. This tournament runs on fresh faces rising fast, yet none stood out like her: a teenager tossing spin from either hand, shaped by the same sands where Malinga once bowled, juggling tests at school while playing for her country.
Right now, Sri Lanka moves ahead minus their young star. Tough climbs wait in Group 2; facing them without such a rare bowler only sharpens the uphill push.
Right-arm seamer Chethana Vimukthi was named as her replacement. She has played three ODIs for Sri Lanka.
She suffered a lower-back injury during training just days before the tournament opener.
She has played seven T20I matches and taken six wickets at an economy rate of 7.05.
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