Kusal Mendis will begin his tenure as Sri Lanka’s Test captain with a two-match series against Pakistan in November, following Dhananjaya de Silva’s decision to relinquish the leadership role.

Kusal Mendis has been appointed Sri Lanka’s new Test captain, replacing Dhananjaya de Silva, who stepped down on Thursday, October 8, bringing an end to a tenure that began in February 2024.

Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed Mendis’ appointment, with the experienced batter set to lead the national team in the upcoming two-Test series against Pakistan in November. The assignment will mark his first appearance as Sri Lanka’s captain in Test cricket.

De Silva, who led Sri Lanka in 18 Tests, said he wanted to hand over the responsibility to the next generation. However, the all-rounder remains available for selection and is expected to continue contributing to the team as a player.

Mendis’ appointment marks another significant step in his leadership career, having been entrusted with Sri Lanka’s permanent white-ball captaincy in May this year.

The 31-year-old has considerable international experience, although his record as a leader in the limited-overs formats has been mixed. In 22 ODIs as captain, he has overseen 10 victories and 10 defeats. His only previous stint as T20I captain came during Sri Lanka’s tour of the West Indies in June, when the team lost the series 2-1.

Despite his experience in the shorter formats, leading Sri Lanka in Test cricket will present a different challenge, particularly as the team looks to rebuild its position in the longest format.

Mendis has played 75 Test matches, scoring 4,836 runs to rank as Sri Lanka’s 12th-highest run-scorer in the format. His experience at the highest level will be central to his new role as the team prepares for a demanding period in Test cricket.

Sri Lanka’s recent results have added to the pressure surrounding the transition. The team lost both Test series played in 2026, going down 1-0 in the West Indies before suffering a 1-0 defeat at home against India.

Under de Silva, Sri Lanka recorded seven victories, eight defeats and three draws in 18 Tests. While the results were mixed, the captaincy period was also marked by a limited playing schedule, which posed challenges for a team seeking consistency in the longest format.

After completing a 1-0 home series victory over Bangladesh in June 2025, Sri Lanka went an entire year without a Test match on their schedule. The current World Test Championship cycle has also provided Sri Lanka with only 12 scheduled Tests, the minimum number for a team in the competition.

De Silva had repeatedly highlighted the difficulties caused by the lack of regular Test cricket, particularly for players who specialise in the format.

With Sri Lanka unlikely to finish among the top two teams in the current World Test Championship cycle, Mendis will have an opportunity to establish his leadership credentials ahead of the next cycle.

The November series in Pakistan will therefore be an important early test for the new captain, as Sri Lanka seek to improve their results and develop greater consistency in Test cricket.

For Mendis, the challenge will be to translate his extensive international experience into effective leadership while guiding a team looking for a fresh start in the longest format.