In a significant leadership change for Sri Lankan cricket, Kusal Mendis has been officially appointed as the new Test captain, effective immediately.
The decision comes after Dhananjaya de Silva, who has led the Test side since January 2024, announced his resignation on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
De Silva, aged 35, conveyed his decision in a letter to Sri Lanka Cricket’s selection committee, stating, “It’s my genuine opinion that the mantle should go down to the next generation.” Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) acknowledged his contributions and welcomed his continued availability for selection as a player in all formats.
Mendis, a 31-year-old right-handed wicketkeeper-batsman, will now captain Sri Lanka across all three formats of the game, becoming the 19th player to lead the island nation in Tests. While he has previously led Sri Lanka in 22 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), this marks his maiden stint as Test captain.
Upcoming Pakistan Test Series
Mendis’s first challenge as Test captain will be the two-match ICC World Test Championship series against Pakistan in November. The schedule for the highly anticipated series is as follows:
| Match | Dates | Venue | Competition/Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | November 9-13, 2026 | Rawalpindi | ICC World Test Championship |
| 2nd Test | November 17-21, 2026 | Lahore | ICC World Test Championship |
Start times for these matches are yet to be announced. Broadcasting details for the series were not immediately available.
Captaincy Records and Player Profiles
Dhananjaya de Silva, born on September 6, 1991, led Sri Lanka in 18 Tests during his tenure, securing seven victories. As captain, the all-rounder scored 1130 runs at an average of 36.45 and also contributed with nine wickets. Overall, he has played 69 Tests since his debut against Australia in 2016, accumulating 4431 runs and taking 43 wickets.
Kusal Mendis, born on February 2, 1995, has been a consistent performer for Sri Lanka since his Test debut in October 2015. In 75 Tests, he has amassed 4836 runs at an average of 36.36, including 10 centuries and 23 half-centuries.
The transition in Test captaincy aims to usher in a new era for Sri Lankan cricket, with Mendis at the helm as the team prepares for crucial World Test Championship fixtures.