Mendis takes the reins as Sri Lanka's new Test skipper—his first assignment in the ICC World Test Championship spotlight. The 31‑year‑old, already steering the ODI and T20I sides, steps into a role that was suddenly vacant.
The former skipper, 35‑year‑old Dhananjaya de Silva, bowed out a few days ago, saying he wanted to "pass the mantle to the next generation". His decision leaves a vacuum that Mendis fills with a mix of experience and ambition.
The 15‑man squad, announced on Tuesday, keeps a blend of veterans and fresh talent. Pathum Nissanka, hampered by a hamstring pull in the England ODI series, is named but will need full fitness before the opening Test. Dilshan Madushanka returns on recall, while Anjala Bandara—22, averaging 65.85 across 46 first‑class innings—gets his first wicket‑keeper‑batter opportunity.
The selectors have also dropped notable names: opener Lahiru Udara, who scored 188 against the West Indies, and wicket‑keeper‑batter Niroshan Dickwella. Their omission sharpens the focus on Mendis’ leadership and the squad’s balance.
In the WTC arena, Sri Lanka sits seventh with a 33.33% points haul—one win, two losses, three draws. Pakistan lags at the bottom, 4.63% after two wins and seven defeats, and are still nursing the sting of a 0‑3 loss to England. The upcoming series, starting 9 November in Rawalpindi and then Lahore, will be a litmus test for both teams.
For Mendis, it’s a baptism by fire: steering a side that lost 0‑1 to India at home but salvaged a draw in the second Test. For Pakistan, it’s a chance to claw back credibility. The stakes go beyond the 15‑day chase; the outcome will ripple through the WTC standings.
The first Test kicks off on 9 November in Rawalpindi, putting Mendis in the hot seat against a struggling Pakistan side. The next chapter of the series will decide who can turn the tide in their favor.