Mendis takes over as Sri Lanka’s ODI captain, with Hasaranga leading the T20Is

Dasun Shanaka’s reign as Sri Lanka’s white-ball skipper has come to an end, with the country’s new selection committee naming Kusal Mendis and Wanindu Hasaranga to head the ODI and T20I squads, respectively. The Test team is being led by Dimuth Karunaratne, marking the first time in three formats that Sri Lanka has had three unique captains.

Mendis took over as captain for much of the last 50-over World Cup when allrounder Shanaka was injured. Despite relinquishing the captaincy, Shanaka has been included to both provisional limited-over teams for the forthcoming series against Zimbabwe.

Charith Asalanka has been named vice-captain of the 50-over and T20 teams, with Hasaranga still on the return road after not playing for Sri Lanka since the World Cup qualifier final against the Netherlands in July.

Shanaka previously commanded Sri Lanka in 2019, in the team’s most famous tour to Pakistan since the 2009 Lahore attack, but it wasn’t until 2021 that he became the team’s regular captain. Sri Lanka won 23 of 41 ODIs and 22 of 48 T20Is during his tenure. The highlight of his residence was Sri Lanka’s 2022 T20 Asia Cup victory in the UAE, in which they defeated Pakistan in the final. ODI series victories against South Africa and Australia, as well as a T20I series victory over India, were also noteworthy. Shanaka also oversaw Sri Lanka’s undefeated run in the 2023 World Cup Qualifier.

All of these accomplishments, however, were intermingled by bad performances in the 2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups, as well as the 2023 ODI World Cup.

However, it was his dismal batting form, particularly in ODIs, that drew the most criticism and caused some to doubt his status in the team. As a result, it was widely anticipated that the new selection committee would look elsewhere for the captaincy.

His successors, Hasaranga and Mendis, also have recent leadership experience. Mendis is the current LPL commander of Dambulla Aura and a former Under-19 captain. When Shanaka had an injury in the middle of the 2023 ODI World Cup, he took over as captain. Hasaranga, who is now recovering from hamstring surgery, led B-Love Kandy to their first LPL title earlier this year.

Shanaka may continue to be used in white-ball formats for Sri Lanka as a part of the preliminary lineups for the January home limited-overs series against Zimbabwe.