Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has officially confirmed the appointment of former South African cricketer Gary Kirsten as the new head coach of the Sri Lanka men’s national team.
Kirsten will begin his duties on April 15, signing a two-year contract that will run until April 14, 2028. The experienced coach is expected to guide Sri Lanka through an important rebuilding phase and help the team regain consistency in international cricket.
Experienced Coach with a Strong Record
Gary Kirsten is widely regarded as one of the most successful coaches in modern cricket. He famously coached India to their 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup victory, one of the biggest achievements in Indian cricket history.
During his time with South Africa as well, the team managed to reach the No.1 position in the ICC Test rankings, highlighting his ability to develop strong and competitive teams.
Most recently, Kirsten worked as a consultant for Namibia during the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, adding further international coaching experience to his résumé.
A Legendary Player for South Africa
Before becoming a coach, Kirsten had an outstanding international playing career with South Africa.
He scored more than 14,000 runs in international cricket and also became the first South African cricketer to play 100 Test matches, making him one of the most respected batters of his era.
Continuing Sri Lanka’s Tradition of Foreign Coaches
Sri Lanka has previously benefited from several foreign coaches who played a key role in shaping the team’s success.
Notable names include:
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Dav Whatmore, who coached Sri Lanka during their historic 1996 World Cup victory
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Tom Moody, who guided the team to the 2007 World Cup final
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Trevor Bayliss, who helped Sri Lanka reach the 2011 World Cup final
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Chris Silverwood, who served as head coach before the appointment of Sanath Jayasuriya
Kirsten’s arrival is seen as one of the most high-profile coaching appointments in Sri Lankan cricket history.
Change After 2026 T20 World Cup Exit
The coaching change comes after Sri Lanka’s disappointing campaign in the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, where the team was eliminated in the Super Eight stage following defeats to England and New Zealand.
Former head coach Sanath Jayasuriya, who stepped down after the tournament, will now take charge of the High Performance Centre within Sri Lanka Cricket.
Although Sri Lanka enjoyed several memorable results at home in 2024 under Jayasuriya — including their first ODI series win against India in 27 years — the recent World Cup performance highlighted the need for a new direction.
Focus on Future Success
According to Sri Lanka Cricket, Kirsten’s appointment is part of a broader effort to restructure the National High Performance system and create a clearer development pathway for the national team.
With the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup scheduled to be played in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, Kirsten’s deep understanding of conditions in that region could be a major advantage for Sri Lanka.
SLC hopes that his experience and leadership will help build a strong, winning culture within Sri Lankan cricket, similar to what he achieved during his time with India and South Africa.