I am back!!!
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is set to usher in a new era in white-ball cricket with the appointment of Kusal Mendis as captain of both the ODI and T20I teams, starting from the forthcoming tour of the West Indies.
The 31-year-old batsman is set to replace Charith Asalanka as ODI skipper and Dasun Shanaka as T20 captain as Sri Lanka seeks stability and direction in the shorter formats of the game ahead of a demanding international calendar. The selectors are, however, set to retain Dhananjaya de Silva as captain of the Test side.
The latest reshuffle comes after growing scrutiny surrounding Sri Lanka’s white-ball performances and leadership structure. Asalanka, who took over the ODI captaincy after Mendis briefly led the side in 2023, struggled to cement his place as a consistent leader. Questions over his form and tactical decision-making became a topic of public discussion in recent months. Shanaka, meanwhile, who had previously led the T20 side with notable success, has also been relieved of his duties as selectors opted for a fresh start.
Mendis has scored 461 runs in 11 ODI innings during the last 12-months at 46.11 and 702 runs in 28 T20 international innings at 28.08. He was in terrific form for Pakistan Super League winning Peshawar Zalmi, scoring 550 runs off 11 innings at 55.00.
For Mendis, this marks both a return and a significant vote of confidence from selectors who believe the experienced batsman has matured into a more complete cricketer. Once viewed as an immensely gifted yet inconsistent player, Mendis has transformed himself into one of Sri Lanka’s most dependable performers across all three formats.
His numbers underline that rise. Mendis has accumulated 4,757 runs in 73 Test matches, 4,890 runs in 154 One Day Internationals, and 2,622 runs in 106 T20 Internationals. He has also previously captained Sri Lanka in 17 ODIs, giving him valuable experience at the helm.
Blessed with a compact technique and naturally aggressive instincts, Mendis was long regarded as one of Sri Lanka’s brightest batting prospects. His rise through the ranks was rapid. He had played only 16 first-class innings before earning a Test debut at the age of 20 and had registered just one first-class century before producing one of the finest innings by a Sri Lankan batsman. That unforgettable knock, a majestic 176 against Australia at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in 2016, remains etched in Sri Lankan cricket history.
Since then, Mendis has delivered several memorable performances in ODI cricket while becoming a permanent fixture in Sri Lanka’s Test batting line up. More importantly, selectors are believed to have been impressed by the maturity and responsibility he has shown in recent years, both as a senior player and as a wicketkeeper-batsman guiding younger teammates.