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Lanka Premier League 2026 marks the return of Sri Lanka’s premier T20 tournament after a two-year gap. The sixth edition begins on July 17 and runs until August 8, with matches taking place across Colombo, Dambulla, and Kandy. The final will be played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on August 8.
This is the biggest LPL yet. Over 650 overseas players from 21 countries registered for the player draft. The names playing in this edition are genuinely world-class across all five teams.
The opening match is on July 17 at Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Colombo. Jaffna Kings, the defending champions, face Galle Gallants in a night match.
The Five Teams
Jaffna Kings
Defending champions. Led by Bhanuka Rajapaksa. Their headline overseas signing is Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh who brings both batting and left-arm spin. Taskin Ahmed adds pace from the Bangladesh camp. Dunith Wellalage gives them local spin depth.
Galle Gallants
Captained by Dasun Shanaka who has been one of the standout performers in MLC 2026 as well. He leads a Galle side that will open the tournament against the champions on July 17.
Kandy Royals
Vijay Shankar of India captains Kandy. Their overseas headliner is Moeen Ali of England who brings both middle-order hitting and off-spin. Angelo Mathews and Wanindu Hasaranga add serious Sri Lankan quality.
Dambulla Sixers
Dambulla face Kandy Royals on July 18 in the second match of the tournament. Their squad details are awaited from the player draft.
Colombo Kaps
The Colombo-based franchise are in the mix as always. Their squad includes players to be confirmed through the draft process.
Key Players to Watch
Shakib Al Hasan — Jaffna Kings
One of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history. He bats in the middle order and bowls left-arm spin. At the SSC in Colombo where the surface tends to help spin in the second innings he is a genuine match-winner every time he plays. He is the most experienced player in the tournament.
Moeen Ali — Kandy Royals
England’s veteran all-rounder brings the same quality to the LPL that he has shown in the IPL, BBL and PSL. He hits sixes and bowls off-spin. The Kandy Royals fixture against Jaffna Kings within five days of the start will be the showpiece matchup of the group stage.
Wanindu Hasaranga — Kandy Royals
Sri Lanka’s best current T20 bowler. His leg-spin and googly have taken wickets in every franchise league he has played in. At home in Sri Lanka on surfaces he knows well he is the most dangerous bowler in the LPL 2026.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa — Jaffna Kings
The Jaffna captain is a left-handed opener who hits the ball into the stands with very little backlift. He is the face of the franchise. On home soil in Colombo he will want to defend the title he won two years ago.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz — confirmed as playing
The Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter has been one of the most destructive openers in franchise cricket globally. His presence in the LPL gives the tournament genuine international firepower at the top of the order.
James Neesham — confirmed as playing
New Zealand’s left-handed hard hitter and medium pacer. He wins matches in the death overs with both bat and ball. A fan favourite in franchise cricket leagues worldwide.
Kusal Mendis — confirmed as playing
Sri Lanka’s wicketkeeper-batter is one of the most important local players in the tournament. His performances for the home team carry huge significance with Sri Lankan fans.
Kamindu Mendis — confirmed as playing
Sri Lanka’s left-handed batter who has emerged as one of their best Test and white-ball options. His inclusion gives the LPL more local flavour and star power.
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Full LPL 2026 Schedule
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| July 17 | Jaffna Kings vs Galle Gallants | SSC Ground, Colombo |
| July 18 | Kandy Royals vs Dambulla Sixers | SSC Ground, Colombo |
| July 18 | Galle Gallants vs Colombo Kaps | SSC Ground, Colombo |
| July 19 | Dambulla Sixers vs Jaffna Kings | SSC Ground, Colombo |
| July 19 | Colombo Kaps vs Kandy Royals | SSC Ground, Colombo |
| July 21 | Dambulla Sixers vs Kandy Royals | Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla |
| July 22 | Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Kaps | Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla |
| July 22 | Dambulla Sixers vs Galle Gallants | Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla |
| July 23 | Kandy Royals vs Colombo Kaps | Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla |
| July 23 | Galle Gallants vs Jaffna Kings | Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla |
| July 25 | Galle Gallants vs Kandy Royals | Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla |
| July 25 | Dambulla Sixers vs Colombo Kaps | Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla |
| July 26 | Kandy Royals vs Jaffna Kings | Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla |
| July 26 | Galle Gallants vs Dambulla Sixers | Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla |
| July 28 | Colombo Kaps vs Jaffna Kings | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy |
| July 29 | Galle Gallants vs Kandy Royals | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy |
| July 29 | Colombo Kaps vs Dambulla Sixers | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy |
| July 30 | Jaffna Kings vs Kandy Royals | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy |
| August 1 | Colombo Kaps vs Galle Gallants | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy |
| August 2 | Jaffna Kings vs Dambulla Sixers | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy |
| August 5 | Qualifier 1 | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| August 5 | Eliminator | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| August 7 | Qualifier 2 | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| August 8 | Final | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
Format
Five teams play a double round-robin in the group stage. Each team plays every other team twice — once at home and once away across the three venues. The top four teams advance to the playoffs. The final is on August 8.
FANTASY
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Q: When does LPL 2026 start?
A: Lanka Premier League 2026 starts on July 17 2026 with Jaffna Kings vs Galle Gallants at SSC Cricket Ground in Colombo.
Q: When is the LPL 2026 final?
A: The LPL 2026 final is on August 8 2026 at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Q: Who are the defending champions of LPL?
A: Jaffna Kings are the defending LPL champions. They are captained by Bhanuka Rajapaksa and have Shakib Al Hasan as their headline overseas signing for 2026.
Q: How many teams are in LPL 2026?
A: Five teams compete in LPL 2026: Jaffna Kings, Galle Gallants, Kandy Royals, Dambulla Sixers and Colombo Kaps.
Q: Which big players are playing in LPL 2026?
A: Shakib Al Hasan (Jaffna Kings), Moeen Ali (Kandy Royals), Wanindu Hasaranga (Kandy Royals), Bhanuka Rajapaksa (Jaffna Kings), Dasun Shanaka (Galle Gallants), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, James Neesham, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis and Angelo Mathews are among the confirmed players.
Q: Where are LPL 2026 matches played?
A: LPL 2026 is played across three venues in Sri Lanka. Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Colombo for the early matches, Dambulla International Stadium and Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy for the middle phase, and R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo for the playoffs and final.
Q: How many overseas players registered for LPL 2026?
A: Over 650 overseas players from 21 countries registered for the LPL 2026 player draft.