Kusal Mendis named Sri Lanka test captain after Dhananjaya de Silva resigns

On October 8, 2026, Sri Lanka Cricket announced that Kusal Mendis will take over as test captain after Dhananjaya de Silva stepped down. De Silva, who had led the team since January 2024, cited the need to pass the mantle to the next generation. Mendis, already captain of the one-day and T20 teams, will lead Sri Lanka in the upcoming two-test series against Pakistan starting November 9 in Rawalpindi. De Silva will remain available for selection.