Sri Lanka Cricket has pulled off a massive coup by officially appointing South African icon Gary Kirsten as the new head coach of the men’s national team. The announcement came on March 9, 2026, confirming that Kirsten will begin a two-year contract starting April 15.
His primary mission is clear: rebuilding the squad and leading the charge for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup hosted in Southern Africa. Kirsten takes over the reins from Sanath Jayasuriya, who stepped down following Sri Lanka’s Super Eight exit in the recent T20 World Cup.
“Gary is one of the very best opening batsmen in the history of the game! What a legend.” – JAY
The legendary opener brings a CV that is arguably the best in the business, having famously coached India to World Cup glory in 2011. He also led the Proteas to the world number one Test ranking across all formats during his tenure between 2011 and 2013.
Most recently, Kirsten was seen working as a consultant for Namibia, proving his expertise in navigating the modern international landscape. The appointment is being hailed as a blockbuster move to stabilize a Sri Lankan side that has struggled with consistency on the big stage.
Fans are already optimistic that Kirsten’s disciplined approach and tactical brilliance will return the island nation to its former heights.
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