Okay so Group B is done and dusted after tonight. Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe at R.Premadasa Stadium on February 19, 2026. Match 38 of the T20 World Cup 2026. Both already through. Both with something to prove. And honestly? I think this one is going to be better than most people expect.

My SL vs ZIM today match prediction coming up but first let me just walk you through where both teams are at heading into this game because context matters a lot here.

Sri Lanka – Unbeaten, Unstoppable and Playing at Home

Okay where do I even start with Sri Lanka. They have been unreal in this tournament. Three games played, three won, top of the group, first team in the whole World Cup to qualify for the Super Eight. It does not get much better than that for a host nation.

But here is what I really want to highlight. It is not just that they are winning. It is how they are winning. The Ireland game was comfortable. The Oman game was even more comfortable. And then came Australia.

I genuinely think the Nissanka innings against Australia might be the best thing I have seen in this entire tournament. 100 off 52 balls. Just think about that for a moment. Against Australia. At a World Cup. He came out in the powerplay and treated their bowling attack like it was a friendly match. By the 10th over the game was over as a contest and Sri Lanka cruised home with 8 wickets in hand. Incredible stuff.

Kusal Mendis has looked good, Pavan Rathnayake has been quietly excellent and down the order there is plenty of firepower. And the bowling. Theekshana has been something else. His numbers against Ireland were genuinely ridiculous, 3/23 with an economy under 6 on a surface that suits him. Chameera has done his bit up front. The whole unit has clicked.

Now yes they have lost Hasaranga and Pathirana to injury which hurts. Pathirana especially because he was going to be their go to death bowler. Madushanka steps in. Against Zimbabwe though, on this surface, I do not think it changes the outcome.

Zimbabwe – I Mean Come On, Just Appreciate What They Have Done

Genuinely if you have not sat back and appreciated Zimbabwe's campaign in this tournament you need to do that right now. Historic Super Eight qualification. First time ever. And the way they did it.

That Australia game. Come on. They posted 169 batting first and everyone watching was thinking yep Australia chase this comfortably. And then Muzarabani happened. He was absolutely magnificent. Four wickets, completely throttled the Australian batters, they never got going and Zimbabwe held on to win by 23 runs. Brian Bennett had already done the work with the bat, 64 not out, played beautifully under pressure.

They beat Oman by 8 wickets in the opener which was professional and efficient. Ireland got rained out. Five points. Net run rate of 1.984. Super Eight stage reached. And Sikandar Raza standing there as captain with this massive grin knowing his team just made history. Love to see it honestly.

Raza has been brilliant as captain throughout even if his own batting has been quieter than usual. His tactical decisions have been spot on and the squad has responded to his leadership brilliantly. Being ranked number one T20I all-rounder in the world does not happen by accident.

The Pitch at Premadasa – And This is Why My SL vs ZIM Today Match Prediction is What It Is

Right so this is the bit that really shapes my SL vs ZIM today match prediction and I need you to pay attention here because the numbers are pretty striking.

At R.Premadasa Stadium in this World Cup every single completed match has been won by the team batting first. Not a couple. All of them. And the average first innings score has been around 175. Teams coming in to chase have not been able to get there and it is not hard to understand why when you watch how the pitch plays.

In the first innings it is actually a nice surface to bat on. Decent pace, true bounce, the ball comes on and stroke making is relatively easy especially in those first six overs. But then something shifts. From about the midway point the pitch starts to slow, it starts to grip, spinners get turn and dip that they simply did not have earlier and batting becomes a completely different challenge. Whatever target is sitting on the board starts looking bigger with every over that passes in the chase. Teams have simply not been able to handle that change in conditions.

And there is the weather on top of all that. Colombo in February can throw anything at you and forecasts are showing up to 90 percent chance of rain on the 19th. If DLS gets involved it adds another layer of difficulty but even in a rain affected game batting first keeps you in control. This pitch factor honestly almost decides the SL vs ZIM today match prediction on its own.

Playing XI

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Dushan Hemantha, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka

Nissanka and Kusal Perera giving them a dangerous opening partnership. Kusal Mendis and Kamindu in the middle bringing class and experience. Shanaka and Hemantha with the finishing firepower. Then Theekshana and Wellalage as the spin twin threat that will be devastating on this surface. Really balanced eleven.

Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Graeme Cremer, Blessing Muzarabani

Zimbabwe need Bennett and Marumani to absolutely fly out of the blocks at the top. Raza and Burl give them composure in the middle. Muzarabani and Evans need to strike early with the new ball. Cremer's leggies could be useful on this pitch. There is talent here. They just need everything to click at once.

Players to Watch Tonight

Pathum Nissanka – Honestly in the form of his life right now. Batting at home on a ground he knows inside out. If he bats long Zimbabwe are in serious trouble. Their whole plan will revolve around getting him out early.

Maheesh Theekshana – I keep saying this but he is going to be the most difficult bowler Zimbabwe face tonight. Mystery spin on a slow gripping Colombo pitch in the middle overs is basically a nightmare scenario for any batting lineup and Zimbabwe's batters have not faced anything like this in this tournament.

Blessing Muzarabani – The one name in the Zimbabwe lineup that genuinely worries me as a Sri Lanka fan. He is quick, he swings it and he has already proved at this World Cup that he can take out top quality batting lineups. If he gets Nissanka early this match is on.

Brian Bennett – Showed everyone against Australia what he is made of. Ice in his veins, plays big occasions like they are nothing. Zimbabwe's entire batting blueprint tonight probably starts and ends with him.

So What Is My SL vs ZIM Today Match Prediction

Look I have gone back and forth on this a tiny bit because of Muzarabani. He genuinely is that much of a wildcard. But when I look at the full picture my SL vs ZIM today match prediction is Sri Lanka and it is with quite a bit of confidence.

The pitch does most of the work. Batting first is a massive advantage at Premadasa in this World Cup and Sri Lanka will absolutely bat first if they win the toss. They post 175 or more, the pitch starts turning and slowing in the second innings and Zimbabwe have to chase against Theekshana and Wellalage with the surface gripping. That is a really hard ask.

Zimbabwe will fight. They always fight. Muzarabani will bowl fast and Bennett will have his moments. But the conditions, the form, the home crowd and the sheer quality of this Sri Lanka eleven all point one way. Sri Lanka win this, the batting first advantage proves decisive again and the hosts finish the group stage with a clean sweep.

The SL vs ZIM today match prediction is Sri Lanka by a comfortable margin. Zimbabwe go home as genuine heroes of this World Cup. Sri Lanka head into the Super Eight as one of the teams nobody wants to face.

Winner – Sri Lanka

Toss Prediction – Sri Lanka are more likely to win the toss. Whoever wins it bats first. Simple as that.

Match 38 | T20 World Cup 2026 | Group B | R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | February 19, 2026