Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe face off in Match 38 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 19, 2026.
Sri Lanka arrive in sharp form after a stunning chase victory over Australia, while Zimbabwe brings disciplined pace bowling and tactical composure to this afternoon’s fixture.
This sl vs zim dream11 prediction today match 38 guide covers every factor that matters before your fantasy deadline — pitch conditions, weather risk, predicted lineups, and captain options.
SL vs ZIM Dream11 Prediction Today Match 38
Rain adds an unpredictable dimension to this contest. Every selection decision carries higher stakes when the weather can alter the match format entirely.
SL vs ZIM: Match Details
Sri Lanka hosts Zimbabwe in their final group fixture at Colombo. Both sides enter with strong recent performances in this tournament.
| 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 rewarded batting-first teams across all four 2026 World Cup fixtures played here.
The surface starts dry, offering good carry early, before deteriorating with uneven bounce that assists both spinners and new-ball seamers.
Chasing at this venue has proven extremely difficult in this edition. The pitch data strongly support setting a target rather than chasing one.
| Pitch Nature | Ideal Decision | Key Advantage | Scoring Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry & gripping | Bat first | Spinners, new ball seamers | Chasing tricky |
SL vs ZIM: Weather Report
Colombo on February 19 carries a moderate rain risk during the afternoon session. High humidity at 70% combined with 29°C temperatures creates classic tropical conditions where brief showers can arrive without warning.
Fantasy users should monitor weather updates closely before the toss. Rain interruptions may trigger DLS calculations that significantly alter match dynamics and scoring patterns.
| Temperature | Humidity | Rain Risk | Match Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29°C | 70% | Moderate chance | Possible interruptions |
SL vs ZIM: Head-to-Head
Sri Lanka holds a commanding record over Zimbabwe across all T20I meetings between these nations. Zimbabwe has managed three victories from eleven contests, with Sri Lanka winning eight.
| Total Matches | SL Wins | ZIM Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | 8 | 3 |
SL vs ZIM: Predicted XIs
Sri Lanka
- Explosive Opening Pair: Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera provide Sri Lanka’s most dangerous powerplay combination. Nissanka’s century against Australia makes him the highest-ceiling batter in this fixture across both sides.
- Middle-Order Anchors: Kusal Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, and Kamindu Mendis offer the batting depth to consolidate after powerplay scoring and accelerate through the death overs effectively.
- Spin & Death Bowling Combo: Maheesh Theekshana controls the middle overs while Dushmantha Chameera and Matheesha Pathirana handle the powerplay and death phases with genuine pace.
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana
Zimbabwe
- Fearless Top Order: Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani attack the powerplay with intent, giving Zimbabwe their best opportunity to post or chase competitive totals at this venue.
- All-Round Balance: Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, and Brad Evans deliver fantasy points across batting and bowling disciplines, making them essential multi-format selections for any balanced team.
- Strike Pace Options: Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava provide a genuine new-ball threat with pace and movement that can unsettle top-order batters on the Colombo surface early in the innings.
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 all-rounders and the highest-ceiling batting option from either side.
- Safe Wicketkeeper Option: Kusal Mendis is the standout keeper pick — his batting position and consistency make him a reliable points accumulator regardless of match situation.
- Form Batter Pick: Pathum Nissanka is non-negotiable after his century against Australia. He carries the highest individual scoring potential of any player in this fixture.
- All-Round Stability Core: Sikandar Raza, Dasun Shanaka, Ryan Burl, Brian Bennett, Kamindu Mendis, Brad Evans, and Dushmantha Hemantha cover both disciplines comprehensively across all match phases.
- Strike Bowlers: Maheesh Theekshana and Blessing Muzarabani are the premier bowling picks — Theekshana for spin effectiveness on this surface, Muzarabani for new-ball wicket-taking threat.
- 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 differential combination for the SL vs ZIM Dream11 Prediction Today shifts captaincy toward Nissanka and introduces Pavan Rathnayake as a lower-ownership Sri Lanka batting option.
- Safe Wicketkeeper Option: Kusal Mendis retained as the core keeper selection for his batting reliability and consistent point accumulation across different match formats.
- Form Batter Pick: Pathum Nissanka moves to captain in this combination, reflecting his current tournament form as the most explosive batting option available in this fixture.
- All-Round Stability Core: Sikandar Raza, Dasun Shanaka, Ryan Burl, Brian Bennett, Brad Evans, and Dushmantha Hemantha maintained as the all-round backbone, with Pavan Rathnayake added as a differential batting pick.
- Strike Bowlers: Maheesh Theekshana and Blessing Muzarabani retained across both team combinations given their venue-specific effectiveness.
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?
Sri Lanka holds the structural advantage through venue familiarity.
Playing every group game at R. Premadasa Stadium has given them a detailed understanding of how the surface behaves across different phases — knowledge that Zimbabwe cannot replicate, regardless of their own strong form in this tournament.
Zimbabwe’s bowling control, particularly through Sikandar Raza and Blessing Muzarabani, gives them a realistic path to restricting Sri Lanka on a pitch that offers genuine assistance.
However, containing Nissanka and Kusal Mendis across 20 overs requires consistent execution that is difficult to sustain.
Sri Lanka’s combination of home-surface knowledge, in-form top-order batting, and spin depth on a deteriorating pitch points firmly toward the hosts winning this fixture.
Conclusion:
This SL vs zim dream11 prediction today match 38 analysis confirms Sri Lanka as the logical team to back, with their home advantage and current form aligning clearly on a batting-first surface.
Sikandar Raza and Nissanka lead the captain options across both fantasy combinations.
Rain remains the biggest external variable — any interruption shifts the match dynamics significantly and requires fast fantasy adjustments.
- Match Date: 19 February 2026
- Match Time: 3:00 PM IST
- Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
- Top Captain Picks: Sikandar Raza (Team 1) | Pathum Nissanka (Team 2)
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