Dhananjaya de Silva Steps Down as Sri Lanka Test Captain to Make Way for Youth

In a major shift in Sri Lankan cricket, experienced all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva has stepped down as the captain of the Test team with immediate effect. The 35-year-old handed his resignation to the Sri Lankan cricket selection committee, confirming that he wishes to pave the way for a younger leader to guide the national team in the foreseeable future.

Passing the Torch to the Next Generation

Dhananjaya served as the national skipper of the Test team from January 2024 till October 2026. In this span, the all-rounder led Sri Lanka in 18 matches, securing 7 victories, 8 defeats, and 3 draws. Despite giving up the leadership role, de Silva assured the board and fans that he will remain fully committed to playing for Sri Lanka as a batter and off-spinner.

Explaining his decision to step aside, de Silva submitted an official letter to the national selection committee stating:

“It’s my genuine opinion that the mantle should go down to the next generation.”

Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva acknowledged Dhananjaya’s decision by quoting,

“Sri Lanka Cricket wishes him the very best for the remainder of his career and thanks him for the leadership he provided to our Test team.”

Key Captaincy Achievements of Dhananjaya de Silva

• Dhananjaya led Sri Lanka across 18 Test matches, registering 7 wins, 8 defeats, and 3 draws.
• In just his second Test match as the skipper, Dhananjaya registered twin centuries in a single Test match against Bangladesh by scoring 102 runs in the first innings and followed it up with 108 in the second innings. In doing so, he became only the third Sri Lankan skipper to score twin centuries in a single Test.
• In his captaincy tenure

Series Wins Home and Away:

• vs Bangladesh (2024 & 2025): Led Sri Lanka to back-to-back Test series victories against Bangladesh, including a dominant 2-0 away win in 2024 and an innings victory in 2025.
• vs Afghanistan (2024): Won his debut Test as captain at home against Afghanistan.
• vs New Zealand (2024): Secured an impressive home series victory against New Zealand in Galle.

What Lies Ahead for Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka Cricket has yet to announce a successor to lead the Test side. The news comes ahead of Sri Lanka’s upcoming two-match Test series against Pakistan in November. The selectors now face a critical decision to appoint a new captain who can rally the young squad, rebuild confidence, and steer Sri Lankan red-ball cricket into a promising future.

Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis are the front runners to take the leadership role. Kusal is currently the white-ball skipper of Sri Lanka, whereas Kamindu has served as the vice-captain in the past across formats.