Kusal Mendis to lead Sri Lanka in Tests after Dhananjaya de Silva makes way for 'next generation'

Sri Lanka Cricket on Thursday appointed Kusal Mendis as the new Test captain after Dhananjaya de Silva stepped down from the position with immediate effect.Mendis, 31, already leads Sri Lanka in ODIs and T20Is and will now take charge of the Test side as well. He has played 75 Tests for Sri Lanka, scoring 4,836 runs at an average of 36.36, including 10 centuries and 23 fifties.His first assignment as Test captain will be Sri Lanka's two-Test series against Pakistan, starting in Rawalpindi on November 9.De Silva, 35, will remain available for selection. He took over as Sri Lanka's Test captain from Dimuth Karunaratne in January 2024 and led the team in 18 Tests, winning seven of them."It's my genuine opinion that the mantle should go down to the next generation," De Silva said in a letter to the selection committee.His decision comes after a difficult year for Sri Lanka, who are seventh in the World Test Championship standings after losing a Test series in the West Indies and suffering a home series defeat against India.De Silva has played 69 Tests for Sri Lanka and remains one of the team's most experienced players. During his tenure as captain, he scored 1,130 runs at an average of 36.45 and took nine wickets.Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva thanked him for his contribution to the longest format.“Sri Lanka Cricket wishes him the very best for the remainder of his career and thanks him for the leadership he provided to our Test team,” said Silva.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.