Gary Kirsten Appointed as Sri Lanka Men’s Team Head Coach. Sri Lanka Cricket has appointed Gary Kirsten as the new head coach of the men’s national team. His tenure will begin on April 15, 2026, starting a new chapter for Sri Lankan cricket. Kirsten has signed a two-year contract with Sri Lanka Cricket. His deal will run until April 14, 2028. The former South African opener brings vast international coaching experience. Sri Lanka hopes his guidance will strengthen the team.
Previous Coaching Experience of Gary Kirsten
Kirsten previously served as head coach of the India national cricket team from 2008 to 2011. During that period, India won the historic 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup under captain MS Dhoni. After leaving India, Kirsten coached the South Africa national cricket team from 2011 to 2013. South Africa reached the No. 1 ranking in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is during his coaching tenure.
Kirsten recently worked as a consultant for the Namibia national cricket team during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. His appointment follows the departure of former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya from the head coach role. Sri Lanka Cricket decided to refresh the coaching setup after recent international results. As a player, Kirsten had a brilliant career for South Africa. He played 101 Test matches and 185 One Day Internationals between 1993 and 2004. The left-handed opener scored more than 14,000 international runs in his career. He also hit 21 Test centuries and 13 ODI hundreds for South Africa.
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Sri Lanka Cricket believes Kirsten’s calm leadership will help develop young players, particularly by leveraging his extensive experience as a successful player and coach to mentor them effectively. One major goal will be preparing the team for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027. The tournament will be co-hosted by South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. Sri Lanka hopes Kirsten can bring stability and strong planning to the national side. Fans will expect improved performances in upcoming international tournaments.