Kumar Sangakkara / Captain & Wicketkeeperu00a0

A combination of aggression and grace sets Kumar Sangakkara apart from the Sri Lankan stalwarts that preceded him. Right from his youth team days, Sangakkara was seen as a skilful batsman, but no one could have imagined his rise to the top of Sri Lankan cricket hierarchy. A brilliant batsman and capable of turning games around with his counterattacking game, Sangakkara's trademark shots are his flowing drives as well as his assured pulls off anything short. As understudy during Mahela Jayawardene's captaincy days, Sangakkara has amassed a wealth of knowledge from one of his country's brightest leaders. He has also added maturity and coolness to his repertoire, thereby enhancing his leadership skills.

With nearly 9000 runs in ODIs, he is no slouch when it comes to matching numbers with his international counterparts either and after initial jitters behind the stumps, he is one of the most reliable, not to mention chirpy, wicketkeepers in the sport. With Sangakkara at the helm, one thing is a certainty: the Sri Lankan team does not back down from a fight and often it's their captain leading the way.u00a0

Mahela Jayawardene

Ex-captain and the leading light of the Sri Lankan batting line-up, Jayawardene has added fire to the steel in his batting to become a complete package. Approaching 10,000 ODI runs, his valuable insight as a former captain will help Sangakkara in crunch situations. Jayawardene does not tolerate fools. Ordinary bowling attacks will be torn to bits when he is in full flow. At the top of the order, he can either play the accumulator or the attacker.u00a0

Tillakaratne Dilshan

In a team full of attacking batsmen, Dilshan is the battering ram. His onslaught at the top of the order leaves the opposition a little stunned and by the time he is gone, the field resembles a war-ravaged army. And if you thought he is not one for the long haul, just think back to his highest ODI score. The 160 he blasted against India in December 2009, was in pursuit of 414 when Sri Lanka fell short by an excruciating three runs.u00a0

Muttiah Muralitharan

His last ODI tournament, Muralitharan would like to leave his mark on Sri Lankan cricket. As if 517 ODI wickets weren't a guarantee of immortality. Murali picked up his 800th Test wicket in his last match, so he doesn't take swansongs lightly. He has years of experience and a bag of tricks, but Murali's greatest weapon perhaps is the seed of doubt he sows in batsmen even before they have faced him.u00a0

Ajantha Mendis

Forty-four matches, 78 wickets at 19.73 apiece. Ajantha Mendis is quite a phenomenon already. Reputed to have all the variations in the book, Mendis' clever use of them is what sets him apart. Even though most international batsmen have by now seen the mysterious carrom ball, Mendis continues to bewilder prodding batsmen around the world.u00a0

Angelo Mathews

An explosive batsman in the shorter form of the game, Mathews is more than capable of taking his team to the finish line in tight situations. He is an excellent finisher of the game and revels in the counterattacking role when his team is in dire need of it. Mathews can also deliver lively pace and his variations especially put the brakes on rapid scoring in the death overs. An important cog in the Sri Lankan line-up.u00a0

Lasith Malinga

With his unorthodox round-arm action, Malinga is a tricky customer. But even that is an understatement when it comes to this vivacious cricketer. A rare breed who does his job with a smile stuck on his face, Malinga is a stingy bowler with the new ball and his yorkers at the death halt the scoring as well as pick crucial wickets. He's no mug with the bat either as he blasted a match-winning 56 against Australia in November 2010.u00a0

WC Recordu00a0
1975u00a0- Exited in the first round after losing all matches.
1979 -u00a0Could not get past group stage.
1983 -u00a0Managed one win but lost other five matches.
1987 -u00a0Could not muster even a single win.u00a0
1992 -u00a0Ousted in the group stage.u00a0
1996 -u00a0Stunned the world by winning their first World Cup.
1999 -u00a0Dumped out in the first round.u00a0
2003 -u00a0Defeated by Australia in the semis.u00a0
2007 -u00a0Losing finalists to Australia.u00a0

Follow Sri Lankau00a0

Feb 20 VS Canadau00a0
Mahinda Rajapaksha International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota

Feb 26 VS Pakistanu00a0
R Premadasa Stadium, Colombou00a0

Mar 1 VS Kenyau00a0
R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Mar 5 VS Australiau00a0
R Premadasa Stadium, Colombou00a0

Mar 10 VS Zimbabweu00a0
Pallekele International Cricket Stadiumu00a0

Mar 18 VS New Zealandu00a0
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai