The rivalry between Sri Lanka and New Zealand has reached a fever pitch in the 2025/26 season, marked by high-stakes tournament clashes and record-shattering individual performances. From the spin-friendly tracks of Galle to the pace-favoured decks in New Zealand, both teams have consistently pushed each other to the absolute limit.
Last 7 Head-to-Head Encounters
Date
Format
Winner
Score / Margin
Top Performer
Feb 25, 2026
T20
New Zealand
Won by 61 runs
Rachin Ravindra (4/27)
Jan 11, 2025
ODI
Sri Lanka
Won by 140 runs
Asitha Fernando (4 wickets)
Jan 08, 2025
ODI
New Zealand
Won by 113 runs
Rachin Ravindra (Century)
Jan 04, 2025
ODI
New Zealand
Won by 9 wickets
Matt Henry (3 wickets)
Jan 02, 2025
T20
Sri Lanka
Won by 7 runs
Kusal Perera (Explosive 50)
Dec 30, 2024
T20
New Zealand
Won by 45 runs
Mitchell Hay (Consistent batting)
Dec 28, 2024
T20
New Zealand
Won by 8 runs
Jacob Duffy (Match-winning spell
Battleground Squads (T20 World Cup Edition)
Sri Lanka (The Lions)
New Zealand (The Blackcaps)
Pathum Nissanka (Opener)
Finn Allen (Powerhouse Opener)
Kusal Mendis (Wicketkeeper)
Tim Seifert (Wicketkeeper)
Kamindu Mendis (All-rounder)
Rachin Ravindra (Star All-rounder)
Charith Asalanka (Captain/Middle-order)
Mitchell Santner (Captain/Spinner)
Dunith Wellalage (Young Spin Sensation)
Glenn Phillips (Gun Fielder/Batter)
Maheesh Theekshana (Mystery Spinner)
Matt Henry (Pace Spearhead)
Dushmantha Chameera (Speedster)
Lockie Ferguson (Express Pace)
Dilshan Madushanka (Left-arm Swing)
Ish Sodhi (Leg-break Specialist)
Upcoming Series: Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (Sri Lanka & India)
The next major chapter in this rivalry will unfold during the 2026 T20 World Cup, co-hosted by Sri Lanka.
Series / Event
Tentative Dates
Primary Venues
Format
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
Feb – March 2026
R. Premadasa, Pallekele, Colombo (SSC)
T20I
NZ Tour of Sri Lanka
May 2026 (Planned)
Dambulla, Kandy
ODI & T20I
SL Tour of England
Sept 2026
Southampton, London
White-Ball
ICC Team Rankings (April 2026)
As of late April 2026, both teams maintain strong positions in the global standings, with New Zealand leading in the longer formats and Sri Lanka surging in ODIs.
Format
New Zealand Rank
Sri Lanka Rank
Top Ranked Team
Test
5th
6th
Australia
ODI
2nd
5th (Joint)
India
T20I
4th
8th
India
Head-to-Head Summary (All-Time)
A historical look at how these two nations have fared against each other across all major formats.
Format
Total Matches
New Zealand Wins
Sri Lanka Wins
Draw/NR/Tie
Test
38
18
9
11
ODI
102
52
43
7
T20I
29
17
11
1
Most Memorable Match – The Epic Thriller!
Nelson (Jan 2, 2025): A high-scoring T20 thriller that saw Kusal Perera smash a historic century to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Match Detail
Statistics
Key Moment
First Innings
NZ: 211/7 (20 ov)
Rachin Ravindra’s rapid 70+
Second Innings
SL: 218/5 (19.4 ov)
Kusal Perera: 101 (46 balls)*
Result
SL won by 7 runs
Perera’s three consecutive sixes in the 18th over.
Major Tournament Matches
These teams have a knack for meeting in “win-or-go-home” scenarios in ICC events.
Tournament
Stage
Winner
Margin
T20 World Cup 2026
Super 8
New Zealand
61 Runs
ODI World Cup 2023
Group Stage
New Zealand
5 Wickets
T20 World Cup 2022
Super 12
New Zealand
65 Runs
ODI World Cup 2019
Group Stage
New Zealand
10 Wickets
Key Performance & Tactical Power-Plays (2025-26)
Player
Role
2025-26 Season Impact
Record / Stat
Kamindu Mendis
All-rounder
Consistent Test & T20 performer
Fastest to 1000 Test runs for SL
Rachin Ravindra
Batter/Spin
Dominant across formats vs SL
321 runs in last 5 innings
Dunith Wellalage
Spinner
Tactical weapon in middle overs
Economy of 4.2 in 2025 ODIs
Matt Henry
Pacer
New-ball specialist
12 wickets in last 4 matches vs SL
Pace vs. Power: The Brutal Numbers
The raw speed of the bowlers often defines the “power-play” dominance in this rivalry.
Bowler
Max Speed (2025-26)
Strike Rate (vs Opponent)
Weapon of Choice
Lockie Ferguson
154.2 km/h
14.5
High-speed bouncer
Dushmantha Chameera
148.9 km/h
19.2
Skidding yorker
Asitha Fernando
144.5 km/h
18.0
In-swinging delivery
Matt Henry
145.1 km/h
16.8
Out-swinger
The “Fortress” Chronicles: Stadium Face-offs
Stadium
Dominant Team
Typical Pitch Condition
Recent Result (2025-26)
Galle (SL)
Sri Lanka
Rank Turner (Spin)
SL won by an innings
Basin Reserve (NZ)
New Zealand
Green Top (Pace)
NZ won by 9 wickets
R. Premadasa (SL)
New Zealand
Dry/Slow
NZ won by 61 runs
Bay Oval (NZ)
New Zealand
Flat/Batting Paradise
NZ won by 45 runs
History Re-Written: Records Smashed (2025/26)
Kusal Perera (2025): Fastest T20I century by a Sri Lankan (46 balls).
Kamindu Mendis (2025): Equalled the world record for most consecutive 50+ scores in debut Test season.
Rachin Ravindra (2026): Youngest New Zealander to reach 2,000 ODI runs.
Asitha Fernando (2025): Best bowling figures for a Sri Lankan pacer in New Zealand (4/27).
The Captain’s Gambit: Strategic Moves
Captain
Move
Outcome
Charith Asalanka
Bowling Wellalage in the 1st Over
Restricted NZ to 35 runs in Powerplay (Jan 2025).
Mitchell Santner
Using 4 Spinners in Colombo
Defended 168 comfortably against SL batters (Feb 2026).
Conclusion
The 2025/26 season has solidified this matchup as one of cricket’s most tactically diverse rivalries. While New Zealand currently holds the edge in consistency and ICC tournament results, Sri Lanka’s emerging young core suggests the “Lions” are ready to reclaim their status as a global powerhouse in the near future.
