Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe clash in Match 38 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 19, 2026.
Sri Lanka arrived in commanding form after defeating Australia in a stunning chase anchored by Pathum Nissanka’s unbeaten century.
Zimbabwe enters this fixture with their own momentum intact, backed by disciplined pace bowling and smart use of local conditions throughout the tournament.
SL vs ZIM Dream11 Prediction Today Match 38
This SL vs zim dream11 prediction today match 38 guide covers all the critical factors — pitch behavior, weather risk, predicted lineups, and top fantasy picks before your deadline.
SL vs ZIM: Match Details
Sri Lanka hosts Zimbabwe in their final Group B fixture, with both sides having shown strong performances in this edition.
This afternoon contest at the Premadasa gives both teams a final group-stage audition.
| Match | Tournament | Date | Time (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe | ICC T20 World Cup 2026 | 19 February 2026 | 3:00 PM | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
SL vs ZIM: Pitch Report
R. Premadasa Stadium has consistently rewarded teams that bat first in this tournament.
All four matches played here in the 2026 edition saw the chasing team lose, including the high-profile IND vs PAK fixture.
The surface starts well for batting but deteriorates quickly, producing uneven bounce that assists both spinners and new-ball pacers as the game progresses.
| Pitch Type | Best Strategy | Helps Bowlers | Chasing Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batting-first surface | Set the target early | Spinners & new-ball pacers | Chasing difficult |
SL vs ZIM: Weather Report
Rain is a genuine concern for this afternoon’s fixture in Colombo on February 19.
Temperatures will hover around 29°C with high humidity levels creating a heavy, tropical atmosphere throughout the afternoon session.
Possible showers could interrupt play, making the toss and early batting approach critical strategic decisions for both captains.
| Temperature | Humidity | Rain Chances | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29°C | 70% | Possible showers | Humid afternoon |
SL vs ZIM: Head-to-Head
Sri Lanka holds a dominant head-to-head record against Zimbabwe across T20 International cricket. Of the 11 meetings between these sides, Sri Lanka has won eight while Zimbabwe has claimed three victories.
| Total Matches | Sri Lanka Wins | Zimbabwe Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | 8 | 3 |
SL vs ZIM: Predicted XIs
Sri Lanka
- Top Order Stability: Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera provide the platform at the top, with Kusal Mendis following as the anchor. Their ability to assess the Premadasa surface early gives Sri Lanka a significant structural advantage in the powerplay.
- All-Round Strength: Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, and Dunith Wellalage cover the middle-order batting while contributing crucial overs with the ball. This all-round depth gives Sri Lanka flexibility across all phases.
- Bowling Core: Dushmantha Chameera leads the pace attack alongside Maheesh Theekshana’s off-spin, which is highly effective on this deteriorating Colombo surface.
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana
Zimbabwe
- Aggressive Openers: Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani look to exploit the powerplay conditions at the top of the order. Their ability to take the pace early has been a consistent feature of Zimbabwe’s approach throughout this tournament.
- Spin Control: Ryan Burl and Sikandar Raza form Zimbabwe’s most dangerous bowling combination on this surface. Both spinners have used the Colombo conditions effectively and present a genuine threat through the middle overs.
- Pace Attack: Blessing Muzarabani leads the pace unit with Richard Ngarava providing support. Muzarabani’s ability to generate pace and swing with the new ball makes him a significant wicket-taking threat in the opening powerplay.
Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Dion Myers, Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Richard Ngarava, Graeme Cremer, Blessing Muzarabani
Dream11 Fantasy Team No. 1 SL vs ZIM Dream11
For the SL vs ZIM Dream11 Prediction Today Match, this combination prioritizes proven match-winners with consistent all-round output.
- Wicketkeeper Pick: Kusal Mendis is the standout wicketkeeper choice — reliable with the bat and accumulates points consistently across all match phases.
- Top Batting Choice: Pathum Nissanka is the essential batting selection after his unbeaten century against Australia, bringing the highest scoring ceiling of any batter in this fixture.
- All-Round Core: Sikandar Raza, Dasun Shanaka, Ryan Burl, Brian Bennett, Kamindu Mendis, Brad Evans, and Dushmantha Hemantha cover all-round contributions across batting and bowling.
- Bowling Attack: Maheesh Theekshana and Blessing Muzarabani provide the wicket-taking backbone in their respective spin and pace roles.
Captain First-Choice: Sikandar Raza | Captain Second-Choice: Blessing Muzarabani Vice-Captain First-Choice: Kusal Mendis | Vice-Captain Second-Choice: Maheesh Theekshana
Dream11 Fantasy Team No. 2 SL vs ZIM Dream11
This alternate combination for the SL vs ZIM Dream11 Prediction Today shifts captaincy toward Sri Lanka’s in-form batter for a higher-ceiling fantasy outcome.
- Wicketkeeper Pick: Kusal Mendis retained as the core wicketkeeper option for his consistent run-scoring output across all match situations.
- Top Batting Choice: Pathum Nissanka and Pavan Rathnayake form a stronger Sri Lanka batting presence, reflecting the hosts’ advantage on their home surface.
- All-Round Core: Sikandar Raza, Dasun Shanaka, Ryan Burl, Brian Bennett, Brad Evans, and Dushmantha Hemantha provide balanced multi-discipline coverage across this team combination.
- Bowling Attack: Maheesh Theekshana and Blessing Muzarabani retained as the premium bowling picks across both fantasy team variations.
Captain First-Choice: Pathum Nissanka | Captain Second-Choice: Brad Evans Vice-Captain First-Choice: Brian Bennett | Vice-Captain Second-Choice: Dasun Shanaka
SL vs ZIM: Dream11 Prediction – Who Will Win?
Zimbabwe has been disciplined and well-organized throughout this tournament, with their pace bowlers executing their plans effectively in Colombo conditions.
They cannot be dismissed lightly, particularly given their experience of playing on these slow, deteriorating surfaces.
Sri Lanka, however, holds a clear advantage as the home side.
Their familiarity with Premadasa conditions, combined with the form of Nissanka and the all-round quality of Shanaka’s squad, gives them a structural edge that Zimbabwe will struggle to overcome across 40 overs.
Sri Lanka are backed to win this fixture and maintain their strong group-stage momentum heading into the Super 8 stage.
Conclusion:
This sl vs zim dream11 prediction today match 38 analysis points toward a Sri Lanka victory on a batting-first surface that rewards the home side’s familiarity with conditions.
Sikandar Raza and Blessing Muzarabani lead the fantasy value picks from Zimbabwe, while Nissanka and Kusal Mendis anchor the Sri Lanka core.
Rain remains the primary external variable — monitor pre-match updates closely before finalizing any fantasy lineup for this fixture.
- Match Date: 19 February 2026
- Match Time: 3:00 PM IST
- Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
- Best Fantasy Captain Picks: Sikandar Raza (Team 1) | Pathum Nissanka (Team 2)
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