Colombo Kaps face Kandy Royals for the second time this season in Match 9 of LPL 2026, with both sides carrying identical 1-2 records after Colombo’s win in their first meeting was followed by defeats for both teams in their next outing.
Colombo Kaps go into this rematch under new captain Kamindu Mendis after regular skipper Kusal Mendis was ruled out for the rest of the tournament with a hamstring injury sustained during their Match 5 win over this same Kandy Royals side.
Kandy Royals, meanwhile, will look to Lahiru Udara and Angelo Mathews for form after a 43-run win over Dambulla Sixers in Match 6 ended their own winless start.
This preview covers both squads, conditions at Rangiri Dambulla, and our prediction for Match 9.
Colombo Kaps vs Kandy Royals – Details
This is the second meeting between these two sides this season, after Colombo Kaps won the first encounter by 6 wickets in Match 5 at the SSC Ground in Colombo.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | 9th Match, Colombo Kaps vs Kandy Royals |
| Tournament | Lanka Premier League 2026 (LPL, 6th edition) |
| Date | Thursday, 23 July 2026 |
| Venue | Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla |
| Time (India) | 3:00 PM IST |
Winning Odds for Kandy Royals vs Colombo Kaps Match 9
| Platform | KR Win Odds | CKP Win Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 1xBet | 2.10 | 2.23 |
| 4rabet | 2.15 | 2.25 |
| BetVibe | 2.01 | 2.12 |
| Stake | 1.97 | 2.09 |
Colombo Kaps & Kandy Royals Squads For LPL 2026
Colombo Kaps face a leadership reshuffle after Kusal Mendis’s season-ending hamstring injury, with Kamindu Mendis stepping up as captain. The Kaps were beaten by 5 runs in their last outing against Jaffna Kings despite a fighting effort from the middle order, and will need their new-look top order to fire against a Kandy attack that has found rhythm at this venue.
Kandy Royals arrive full of confidence after finally breaking their season-opening winless run, with Lahiru Udara striking his second successive half-century in Match 6 and Nuwan Thushara’s 4/29 doing the damage with the ball. Angelo Mathews will look to continue leading from the front after his own unbeaten cameo sealed that win.
Colombo Kaps
Kamindu Mendis (c), Kusal Mendis (out for season), Kushal Bhurtel, Thanuka Dabare, Ben McDermott (wk), Mohammad Haris, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sharujan Shanmuganathan, Janith Liyanage, James Neesham, Wanuja Sahan, Movin Subasingha, Malsha Tharupathi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Binura Fernando, Hasan Mahmud, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Anthony Arul Pragasam, Milan Rathnayake, Jeffrey Vandersay.
Kandy Royals
Angelo Mathews (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Moeen Ali, Vijay Shankar, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Kusal Perera, Lahiru Udara, Dale Phillips, Daniel Sams, Nuwan Thushara, Asitha Fernando, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Brandon McMullen, Zahir Khan, Garuka Sanketh, Vishen Halambage, Muditha Lakshan, Sahan Mihira, Pavan Sandesh, Dushan Hemantha, Isitha Wijesundara, Sediqullah Atal.
Colombo Kaps vs Kandy Royals – Pitch & Weather Report
Check here for the details of match 9 in the ongoing Lanka Premier League 2026.
Pitch Report
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Behaviour | Rangiri Dambulla has shown a reputation for balance through the opening week of this season, with seamers finding early assistance before the pitch opens up for spin as the innings progresses. |
| Batting Conditions | Totals have varied widely at this venue so far this season, from Kandy Royals’ 194 in Match 6 to Dambulla Sixers’ 151 in the same game, suggesting conditions reward strong batting more than a flat, one-paced surface. |
| Bowling Assistance | Pace bowlers have been central to results here so far, with Nuwan Thushara’s 4/29 and Fazalhaq Farooqi’s new-ball spells both proving decisive in matches at this venue. |
| Toss & Dew Factor | As an afternoon match, dew shouldn’t be a major factor for most of the contest, though it could creep in in the closing stages if the game runs long. |
Weather Report
Here’s a look at the weather conditions expected for the match.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Around 33°C at the start of play, easing into the high-20s Celsius by the back end of the match. |
| Weather | Cloudy conditions are expected, consistent with Dambulla’s wetter mid-year stretch. |
| Precipitation | A 20% chance of rain — a manageable risk unlikely to seriously disrupt the match. |
| Humidity & Wind | High tropical humidity with light winds, typical for the region in July. |
Colombo Kaps vs Kandy Royals – Head-to-Head in LPL History
Colombo Kaps hold the early advantage in this newly formed rivalry, having defeated Kandy Royals by six wickets in Match 5 of the 2026 Lanka Premier League at the SSC Ground. That victory gave Colombo a 1-0 lead in the head-to-head record between the two franchises.
| Matches | Colombo Kaps Won | Kandy Royals Won | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
The teams now meet for the second time this season, with Kandy Royals looking to level the season series after registering their first win of the campaign, while Colombo Kaps will aim to complete a season double.
Players to Watch for Colombo Kaps vs Kandy Royals
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Kamindu Mendis (CK) | Continues as Colombo Kaps captain after taking over following Kusal Mendis’s season-ending injury, having led the side for the first time in Match 7’s narrow loss to Jaffna Kings. |
| Janith Liyanage (CK) | Player of the Match in the sides’ first meeting this season with an unbeaten 53 that sealed a 6-wicket win. |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman (CK) | The mystery spinner offers control through the middle overs on a surface that should increasingly assist spin as the innings wears on. |
| Lahiru Udara (KAR) | Struck his second successive half-century in Match 6 and gives Kandy Royals a fluent, in-form opener. |
| Angelo Mathews (KAR) | Captained Kandy Royals to their first win of the season with an unbeaten cameo in Match 6 and remains the side’s senior batting presence. |
| Nuwan Thushara (KAR) | Took 4/29 in Match 6 and gives Kandy Royals a genuine new-ball threat heading into the rematch. |
Winner Prediction
Colombo Kaps go in with the psychological edge of having already beaten this Kandy Royals side once this season, though the loss of Kusal Mendis and his subsequent Match 7 defeat to Jaffna Kings have complicated their build-up.
Kandy Royals arrive with genuine momentum after Match 6, with Lahiru Udara in career-best form and Nuwan Thushara giving them control with the new ball. With both sides evenly poised at 1-2, Kandy Royals’ current form edges them into slight favourites, though Colombo’s win in the first meeting keeps this finely balanced.
