AUS vs SL: Will Steve Smith play tonight's clash in T20 World Cup 2026?

Steve Smith joined Australia’s squad as a replacement for injured Josh Hazlewood.

After a shocking defeat against Zimbabwe, Australia have a do-or-die situation against Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup 2026. The Kangaroos have to win the encounter at any cost to keep their hopes of reaching the Super 8 round alive. The AUS vs SL match will take place on February 16 (Monday) at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele.

Ahead of the match, Australia made a big change in their squad. Senior batter Steve Smith has officially replaced injured Josh Hazlewood in the squad. The latter was ruled out of the squad ahead of the tournament due to a hamstring injury.

Smith was added as a cover-up for Mitchell Marsh, who sustained a testicular injury in the groin area ahead of Australia’s opening match against Ireland. Marsh also missed the game, and Travis Head captained the side in his absence.

As Smith has been officially added to Australia’s squad, he is eligible to play in the AUS vs SL clash. After a humiliating defeat against Zimbabwe in the last match, they are expected to make changes in the playing XI.

Steve Smith is likely to play in the AUS vs SL match

Notably, Australia‘s batting woes were clearly visible in the previous clash against Zimbabwe, where they failed to chase down a 170-run target. The crucial top and middle-order batters lost their wickets cheaply, and Australia were bowled out for 146 runs.

In such a scenario, Smith will be part of Australia’s playing XI in the next game as they need to add more firepower to the batting unit. He is likely to replace all-rounder Cameron Green at the No. 3 batting slot, as he usually bats in the same position.

Also, Green has completely struggled to make a mark in the previous two games. He lost his wicket for 21 runs against Ireland and was gone for a duck against Zimbabwe.

Another reason for Smith’s inclusion is his marvellous form in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025-26, where he played for Sydney Sixers.

Smacking 299 runs in six innings at an average of 59.80 and a strike rate of 167.97, he played a crucial role in the team’s success in the tournament. The Sixers finished as the runners-up in BBL 2025-26.

Moreover, Australia have inducted Smith officially to the squad just ahead of the clash against Sri Lanka. This proves that management really wants to play him in the next game.

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