Sri Lanka Appoints Kusal Mendis as New Test Captain
In a recent decision, Sri Lanka Cricket has named Kusal Mendis as the new captain of the Test team. This shift in leadership comes after Dhananjaya de Silva stepped down from the captaincy, placing Mendis in charge just before the team’s crucial World Test Championship matches against Pakistan. The Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee made this announcement during a meeting at the Sri Lanka Cricket headquarters.
At 31 years old, Mendis is recognized as a key player for Sri Lanka and has previous experience leading the national side in limited-overs formats. He has captained Sri Lanka in 22 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), although this will be his first time at the helm in Test matches. Mendis returned as the white-ball captain earlier in the year after previously holding the role.
Currently, Mendis has played 75 Test matches, amassing a total of 4,836 runs with an average of 36.36, which includes 10 centuries and 23 half-centuries. This leadership role presents a significant opportunity for him to influence Sri Lanka’s performance in Test cricket.
Immediate Challenges Ahead
Mendis’s first test as captain will be in a two-match series against Pakistan, part of the ongoing 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. The first match is set to take place in Rawalpindi from November 9 to 13, followed by the second Test in Lahore from November 17 to 21. Sri Lanka is currently in Pakistan for a multi-format series, where Mendis is already leading the T20I team.
De Silva’s departure marks the end of his tenure that began in February 2024, during which he led the team in 18 Test matches, securing seven wins, suffering eight losses, and drawing three. His resignation follows a challenging period for the Sri Lankan Test team, which included two series defeats—one against the West Indies and another at home against India.
Despite stepping down as captain, de Silva remains open to playing for the team. He expressed that he believes it’s time for the next generation to take on leadership, stating, “It’s my genuine opinion that the mantle should go down to the next generation.”
This change in leadership represents a fresh beginning for Sri Lanka’s Test cricket as Mendis gets ready to take on the challenges ahead, starting with the important series against Pakistan.
