Sri Lanka Cricket turns to one of the world’s most respected coaches as Gary Kirsten steps in to guide the national team toward the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup and rebuild its international dominance.
Former South African cricketer and celebrated international coach Gary Kirsten has been appointed as the new head coach of Sri Lanka’s national men’s cricket team. Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed that Kirsten will officially assume duties from April 15, 2026, under a two year contract aimed at strengthening the team’s performance on the global stage.
Kirsten arrives with a remarkable coaching résumé that includes one of the most historic moments in modern cricket. He famously guided India to victory in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, a triumph that cemented his reputation as one of the most effective and respected coaches in international cricket.
Following his success with India, Kirsten went on to coach the South African national team from 2011 to 2013. During that period, South Africa rose to the number one ranking across all three formats of the game in 2013, highlighting his ability to build balanced and high performing teams.
Most recently, Kirsten worked as a consultant for Namibia during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, further demonstrating his continued influence in global cricket development.
Before transitioning into coaching, Kirsten enjoyed a distinguished playing career for South Africa between 1993 and 2004. Across that period, he scored more than 14,000 international runs and established himself as one of the most reliable opening batsmen of his era. His record includes 21 Test centuries and 13 One Day International hundreds.
As Sri Lanka’s new head coach, Kirsten’s main objective will be to prepare the national team for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
