Mendis handed test captaincy as De Silva steps aside

Sri Lanka Cricket has named Kusal Mendis as the country’s new Test captain after Dhananjaya de Silva stepped down from the position with immediate effect. The leadership change was confirmed shortly after de Silva informed selectors of his decision, stating that the opportunity should now pass to the next generation of players.

De Silva captained Sri Lanka in 18 Test matches between 2024 and 2026, overseeing seven wins, eight defeats and three draws during his tenure. The 35-year-old clarified that he remains available for selection and will continue his international career as a player.

Mendis, already Sri Lanka’s captain in both ODI and T20I cricket, now assumes responsibility across all three formats. The experienced batter has played 75 Tests, 159 ODIs and 109 T20Is for his country.

His first Test assignment will be the two-match series against Pakistan starting on November 9.