Sri Lanka Appoints Kusal Mendis as New Test Captain
Sri Lanka has announced that Kusal Mendis will take over as the new Test captain after Dhananjaya de Silva stepped down from the role. This leadership change comes just ahead of the team’s upcoming World Test Championship matches against Pakistan. The decision was made during a meeting of the Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee on Thursday at their headquarters.
The 31-year-old Mendis has been a vital player for Sri Lanka, known for his batting skills. He has previously captained the national team in shorter formats, leading the squad in 22 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). However, this will be his first time leading the team in Test matches. He was reinstated as the captain for white-ball formats earlier in 2026, having previously held this position.
Mendis has played 75 Test matches, accumulating 4,836 runs with an average of 36.36, which includes 10 centuries and 23 half-centuries. As he steps into this new leadership role, all eyes will be on him to help enhance Sri Lanka’s performance in Test cricket.
Immediate Challenge Ahead for Mendis
Mendis will face his first leadership challenge against Pakistan as part of a two-match Test series in the ongoing 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. The series kicks off on November 9 in Rawalpindi, followed by the second Test in Lahore from November 17 to 21. At present, the Sri Lankan team is in Pakistan for a multi-format tour, where Mendis is also leading the T20I team.
De Silva’s captaincy came to an end after a tough time for Sri Lanka in Test cricket, where the team faced defeats in both series they played in 2026—losing 1-0 in the West Indies and at home to India. Despite stepping down, he will remain eligible for selection as a player.
De Silva shared his thoughts on the decision, stating, “It’s my genuine opinion that the mantle should go down to the next generation.” This leadership transition offers Mendis a significant opportunity to guide Sri Lanka into a new chapter in Test cricket, starting with the series against Pakistan.
