Dhananjaya de Silva banks on home advantage to make WTC Final 2027

Not a favourite, but the Sri Lanka Cricket Team had a realistic path to make it to the WTC Final 2025. All they had to do was win against Australia at home and win at least one match against South Africa away. However, it proved to be Mission Impossible as Sri Lanka lost all those games to finish sixth in the World Test Championship Points Table. Now, a new Test cycle begins as Sri Lanka take on Bangladesh at home in a two-match Test series starting on June 17. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva is targeting the WTC Final 2027, banking on home advantage.

Sri Lanka will play 12 matches in the 2025-27 WTC cycle. As mandated by the ICC, each team will play three home series and as many away. However, Sri Lanka will face two of the strongest Test teams — India and South Africa — at home. That gives them an advantage.

“We had a big chance to get to the final. But, unfortunately, we couldn’t do it. Even yesterday, when I talked to the boys, I reminded them where we could have been and where we ended up. As we begin a new cycle, we know we have to win our home series. We need to pick up all those points. It’s a great opportunity to start a new cycle with a home series,” Sri Lanka Test captain Dhananjaya de Silva told reporters ahead of the SL vs BAN Test series.

Sri Lanka in WTC 2025-27

However, what Sri Lanka would lack is continuity. After the SL vs BAN Test series, Sri Lanka’s next Test assignment will be a year later against the West Indies. With no Tests in between, Sri Lanka will face a huge challenge in challenging for the WTC Final 2027.

However, realistically, Sri Lanka could be one of the teams to challenge. The toughest series for them will be against New Zealand away. The West Indies and Pakistan series would be away. But both teams have had their fair share of struggles. Hence, Sri Lanka could pull off an upset against Pakistan like Bangladesh did in the last Test cycle. Even though Sri Lanka have never won a Test series in the West Indies, they drew the last three, giving them a chance to win an away series.

Against India and South Africa at home, it would be a big challenge. Sri Lanka haven’t won a Test series at home against India since 2008. However, with the Indian Cricket Team in transition, De Silva & Co could smell an opportunity. Defending World Test champions South Africa could also be an opportunity. The last time Sri Lanka hosted South Africa, they won 2-0 in 2018.

“Our job as professionals is to adapt to any situation. We have to play the situations we’re given – we can’t blame anyone. Last year we got a few Tests, but this year we didn’t, and that’s not something that is in our hands,” Dhananjaya de Silva said.

Sri Lanka WTC 2025-27 Schedule