Sri Lanka has appointed Kusal Mendis as their new Test captain after Dhananjaya de Silva resigned from the post with immediate effect, as the island nation prepares to face Pakistan in the World Test Championship (WTC). The decision was taken by the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Selection Committee, which met at the board's headquarters on Thursday.
The 31-year-old opener has emerged as one of Sri Lanka's most promising batters, with a wealth of international experience to his name. Although he has captained his country on a number of occasions in limited-overs cricket, he has not yet led Sri Lanka in Test matches. SLC named him as the white-ball skipper earlier this year, in February 2026.
Kusal Mendis' Test record and immediate challenge
Kusal Mendis has played 75 Tests for Sri Lanka, scoring 4,836 runs at an average of 36.36, including 10 centuries and 23 half-centuries. He has also captained the team in 22 ODIs and three T20Is. His appointment as Test captain represents his first opportunity to lead Sri Lanka in the longest format, and the team hopes his experience as an established batsman will assist them through this challenging period.
His first assignment as Test captain will be a two-match series against Pakistan, which represents a vital part of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. The opening Test will be in Rawalpindi on November 9-13, followed by a second match in Lahore on November 17-21. The Sri Lankan squad is already in Pakistan ahead of a multi-format tour and Kusal Mendis will also lead the side in the T20I series.
Dhananjaya de Silva steps down after difficult run
The appointment of a new Test captain marks an end to de Silva's tenure as Sri Lanka's Test skipper, a role he took on in February 2024. During his time in the role, he led the side in 18 Tests, winning seven, losing eight and drawing three before stepping down in October 2026.
Sri Lanka have struggled in the longest format during their recent campaigns, suffering defeat in both their Test series in 2026. They were 1-0 down in the West Indies and then 1-0 down again at home to India. The new captaincy comes as Sri Lanka look to recover from their recent woes and find a way through the WTC cycle.
Although de Silva will relinquish the captaincy, he will still be available for selection as a player, explaining he felt it was the time for a younger generation to step up.
“It's my genuine opinion that the mantle should go down to the next generation,” de Silva said.
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Kusal Mendis begins a new chapter in Sri Lanka Test cricket
Kusal Mendis will now look to utilize his experience of white-ball captaincy to transition himself into the longer format. His appointment represents a key opportunity for the Sri Lankan side to recover from their recent series defeats.
Their upcoming tour to Pakistan will present an early opportunity to put their new man in charge under the spotlight with two crucial WTC matches up for grabs. Sri Lanka hope the fresh start represented by de Silva's exit will bring them much needed direction and consistency in the longest format.