Dhananjaya de Silva has stepped down as Sri Lanka’s Test captain with immediate effect. Sri Lanka Cricket has appointed Kusal Mendis as his replacement. De Silva, 35, led Sri Lanka in 18 Tests from 2024 to 2026. Sri Lanka won seven, lost eight and drew three of those matches.
De Silva confirmed his decision in a letter to the SLC selection committee. “It’s my genuine opinion that the mantle should go down to the next generation,” he said.
De Silva will remain available for selection as a player. SLC CEO Ashley de Silva thanked him for his service as captain. Mendis will captain Sri Lanka in Test cricket for the first time. He already leads the team in ODIs and T20Is.
His first Test series as captain will be against Pakistan. The two-match series starts on November 9 and is part of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle. Mendis will first lead Sri Lanka in the three-match T20I series against Pakistan, starting on October 9. The 31-year-old has played 75 Tests, 159 ODIs and 109 T20Is. He has captained Sri Lanka in 22 ODIs and started his T20I captaincy in June 2026 against the West Indies. Mendis will take charge of the Test side for the first time when Sri Lanka face Pakistan in the two-Test series in November.
Dhananjaya de Silva’s Test Captaincy Record
| Matches | Won | Lost | Drawn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 7 | 8 | 3 |
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