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Kandy Royals begin their LPL 2026 campaign against Dambulla Sixers at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo on Saturday, July 18, a day after the tournament opener between Jaffna Kings and Galle Gallants at the same venue. The headline story is Shaheen Afridi, who could make his first ever LPL appearance in this match after signing with Kandy Royals following his omission from Pakistan’s Test squad for the West Indies tour. In this preview you will find the match details, squad news, pitch report and two KR vs DS fantasy team options, one safe and one for grand leagues.
For Indian viewers, the match starts at 3.00 PM IST, since Sri Lanka shares the same time zone as India. The match will be shown on Star Sports 3 and streamed on FanCode in India.
KR vs DS Match Details
Match: Kandy Royals vs Dambulla Sixers, 2nd Match, Lanka Premier League 2026
Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026
Time: 3.00 PM IST | 3.00 PM local time in Colombo
Venue: Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo
Broadcast in India: Star Sports 3, FanCode
Shaheen Afridi’s LPL Debut Is The Story Here
Shaheen Afridi was left out of Pakistan’s Test squads for the West Indies and England tours as part of a wider bowling attack overhaul, and with no red ball cricket to play, he signed with Kandy Royals for this LPL season.
The signing was teased by Sri Lanka Cricket through a video of a mystery left arm fast bowler before Kandy confirmed his arrival directly.
He arrives having taken just 2 wickets in 4 matches for Brisbane Heat in this year’s Big Bash League, a stint cut short by a knee cartilage injury, and his pace has dropped from the 140 plus kph he was once known for into the high 120s and low 130s at times.
Even so, a bowler with 362 T20 wickets at an average of 20.99 remains one of the most dangerous signings in this year’s draft.
Whether he is fit and ready to feature in Kandy’s opening match will likely be confirmed close to the toss.
Also Read- Shaheen Afridi Kandy Royals: PCB Grants NOC For Lanka Premier League Debut
Kandy Royals: A Star Studded, 20 Man Squad
Kandy Royals have built one of the deepest squads in the competition. Wanindu Hasaranga captains a side that already features Angelo Mathews, Moeen Ali and recently retired Indian all rounder Vijay Shankar, with Afghanistan wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sri Lankan seamer Nuwan Thushara added as Platinum picks. Kusal Perera, Asitha Fernando, Dushan Hemantha and Australian all rounder Daniel Sams strengthen the squad further, and Shaheen Afridi’s arrival as a late marquee signing gives them a genuine strike bowler to lead the pace attack.
Dambulla Sixers: Chandimal Leads A Settled 18 Man Group
Dambulla Sixers were the only franchise to keep their identity unchanged this season, and their squad reflects that continuity. Dinesh Chandimal captains and keeps wicket, with local icon Dushmantha Chameera and South African batter Reeza Hendricks providing experience. The draft added mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana and Afghanistan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi, and the squad is rounded out by Sahibzada Farhan, Niroshan Dickwella, Akila Dananjaya, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Gulbadin Naib and Shadley van Schalkwyk among others. South African batter Marques Ackerman was added as a replacement for Dian Forrester.
KR vs DS Head To Head Record
Kandy Royals lead the recent head to head 7 wins to 3. Their most recent meeting came in the 2024 season, when Kandy chased down 168 to win by 6 wickets. Kandy also beat Dambulla in the corresponding fixture earlier that same season, chasing 179 with 17 balls to spare. Dambulla’s most recent win in this fixture came in the 2023 final, when they defended 147 to beat Kandy by 4 runs.
KR vs DS Recent Form (Last 5 Matches Each)
| Team | Last 5 Results |
|---|---|
| Kandy Royals | L, W, W, L, L |
| Dambulla Sixers | W, L, L, W, W |
All ten results come from the 2024 season, since LPL did not run in 2025.
KR vs DS Team Comparison (Last 10 Matches Each)
| Comparison | KR | DS |
|---|---|---|
| Win percentage | 40% | 40% |
| Average score | 176 | 163 |
| Highest score | 230 | 191 |
| Lowest score | 78 | 123 |
SSC Ground Pitch Report: Second Match At A New Venue
This is only the second LPL match ever played at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, following Friday’s tournament opener. The clearest reference point remains this year’s T20 World Cup matches at the venue, all of which favoured the team batting first.
Recent T20 matches at SSC Ground, Colombo:
| Match | 1st Innings | 2nd Innings | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAK vs NAM, T20 World Cup 2026 | PAK 199/3 | NAM 97 | Pakistan won |
| IRE vs OMA, T20 World Cup 2026 | IRE 235/5 | OMA 139 | Ireland won |
| PAK vs USA, T20 World Cup 2026 | PAK 190/9 | USA 158/8 | Pakistan won |
With this an afternoon start rather than the previous evening fixture, dew should not be a factor, which points towards batting first being the stronger option once again. A total in the 180 to 200 range looks like a reasonable target based on the venue’s early T20 World Cup evidence, though Friday’s opener between Jaffna and Galle will give a clearer read on how a genuine LPL pitch here behaves.
KR vs DS Probable Playing XIs
Kandy Royals (probable): Kusal Perera (wk), Angelo Mathews, Vijay Shankar, Moeen Ali, Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Daniel Sams, Dushan Hemantha, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Nuwan Thushara, Asitha Fernando, Shaheen Afridi
Garuka Sanketh, Zahir Khan and Brandon McMullen are the other bowling options if Shaheen is not risked in the opener, and Dale Phillips and Sediqullah Atal add batting depth to a squad with plenty of choice.
Dambulla Sixers (probable): Reeza Hendricks, Sahibzada Farhan, Dinesh Chandimal (c, wk), Niroshan Dickwella, Gulbadin Naib, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Dushmantha Chameera, Mohammad Wasim Jr
Akila Dananjaya, Shadley van Schalkwyk and Pavan Rathnayake are the other options if Dambulla want a different bowling mix.
KR vs DS Full Squads
Kandy Royals: Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Angelo Mathews, Moeen Ali, Vijay Shankar, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Nuwan Thushara, Kusal Perera (wk), Asitha Fernando, Dushan Hemantha, Daniel Sams, Garuka Sanketh, Vishen Halambage, Muditha Lakshan, Lahiru Udara, Dale Phillips, Zahir Khan, Brandon McMullen, Dewa Pawan Sandesh de Silva, Isitha Wijesundara, Sediqullah Atal, Shaheen Afridi
Dambulla Sixers: Dinesh Chandimal (c, wk), Reeza Hendricks, Sahibzada Farhan, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Akila Dananjaya, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Ramesh Mendis, Sachitha Jayatilake, Gulbadin Naib, Marques Ackerman, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Vishva Kumara, Gayana Weerasinghe
Key Player Battles
Shaheen Afridi vs Reeza Hendricks: If Shaheen plays, his first LPL over against a proper international opener in Hendricks is the moment every fan at the SSC will be watching. His pace and shape with the new ball have not looked the same since his knee injury, and this is the first real test of where he stands right now.
Wanindu Hasaranga vs Dinesh Chandimal: Two captains and two of the shrewdest cricketing minds on either side. Hasaranga’s leg spin against Chandimal’s calm, experienced batting in the middle overs could shape how the match is won.
Angelo Mathews vs Maheesh Theekshana: Mathews has faced spin his entire career at the highest level, and Theekshana’s mystery variations are exactly the kind of bowling that has troubled less experienced batters in this format. A senior pro against a modern mystery spinner is always worth watching.
FANTASY
| App Name | Daba Fantasy |
| Primary Sport | Cricket |
| User Interface | Clean and easy to use |
| App Speed | Fast loading |
| Small League Contests | Available |
| Grand League Contests | Available |
| Availability | Where fantasy sports are legal |
KR vs DS Fantasy Team (Small Leagues)
Wicketkeeper: Kusal Perera
Batters: Angelo Mathews (VC), Reeza Hendricks, Sahibzada Farhan
All Rounders: Wanindu Hasaranga (C), Moeen Ali, Gulbadin Naib
Bowlers: Maheesh Theekshana, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Dushmantha Chameera
Hasaranga is the captain as Kandy’s leader and one of the best white ball all rounders in the world. Mathews is the vice captain on reputation and his record of controlling an innings against quality bowling. Given Shaheen Afridi’s fitness is unconfirmed, he is left out of this safe team, and the bowling group leans on Dambulla’s settled, in form attack instead.
KR vs DS Fantasy Team (Grand Leagues)
For grand leagues, this second KR vs DS fantasy team leaves out Hasaranga and Mathews, who will be the two most owned players in this match.
Wicketkeeper: Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Batters: Vijay Shankar, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal
All Rounders: Daniel Sams (C), Dushan Hemantha (VC)
Bowlers: Shaheen Afridi, Nuwan Thushara, Ramesh Mendis, Dushmantha Chameera
Sams as captain is the differential, an overseas all rounder capable of contributing with both bat and ball at far lower ownership than the headline Kandy names. Hemantha is the vice captain as a local all rounder who could bat higher than expected. Shaheen Afridi is the boldest punt on this list. If he plays, even a handful of overs from a bowler of his pedigree in his LPL debut carries huge upside at what should be very low ownership given the uncertainty around his fitness.
KR vs DS Match Prediction
Kandy Royals look the deeper squad on paper, with genuine international quality in almost every position, but their combination is entirely unproven together and Shaheen Afridi’s fitness remains a real question mark. Dambulla Sixers are settled and know exactly how they want to play after keeping their core group intact, with a bowling attack led by Theekshana and Farooqi that should trouble any top order. This is close to a coin flip on paper, and Shaheen Afridi’s involvement, or lack of it, could easily be the difference between the two sides.
Q. When is the KR vs DS LPL 2026 match?
A. The 2nd match of LPL 2026 will be played on Saturday, July 18 at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo, starting at 3.00 PM local time, which is also 3.00 PM IST.
Q. Where can I watch KR vs DS live in India?
A. The match will be shown on Star Sports 3 and streamed live on FanCode in India.
Q. Is Shaheen Afridi playing for Kandy Royals against Dambulla Sixers?
A. Shaheen Afridi has signed with Kandy Royals and this match is scheduled to be his LPL debut, but his fitness after a recent knee issue means his inclusion in the final XI is not guaranteed until the toss.
Q. Who should be captain in the KR vs DS fantasy team?
A. Wanindu Hasaranga is the best captain choice as Kandy’s leader and a genuine all round threat. Daniel Sams is a strong differential captain for grand leagues.
Q. What is the head to head record between Kandy Royals and Dambulla Sixers?
A. Kandy Royals lead the recent head to head 7 wins to 3, though Dambulla’s last win in the fixture came in the 2023 final, when they defended 147 to win by 4 runs.