COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s Dhananjaya de Silva stepped down as captain of the Test team on Thursday, ahead of selection for next month’s two-match series against Pakistan. The 35-year-old said in a letter to the selectors that the mantle should go to the next generation. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed that the decision takes effect immediately, and that he will still be available for selection as a player. No successor has been announced yet.
Background: Two Years in Charge
De Silva took over as Sri Lanka’s Test captain in January 2024, replacing Dimuth Karunaratne, and became the country’s 18th Test skipper. He made an impressive start, scoring centuries in both innings of his second Test as captain, which helped Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh in Sylhet by 328 runs.
Over time, however, results became harder to find. According to reports, Sri Lanka lost both of their Test series this year, first 1-0 against the West Indies and then 1-0 at home against India in August. These results have reportedly left Sri Lanka with very little chance of reaching next year’s World Test Championship final, although it is best to check the official standings for the exact position.
Details: What He Said and What the Numbers Show
In his letter, De Silva wrote that, in his genuine opinion, the mantle should go down to the next generation. He did not give any other public explanation, and the decision appears to have been his own. SLC’s chief executive, Ashley de Silva, thanked him for the leadership he provided to the Test team and wished him well for the rest of his career.
De Silva led Sri Lanka in 18 Tests, winning seven, losing eight and drawing three. He has played 69 Tests since making his debut against Australia in 2016, scoring 4,431 runs and taking 43 wickets. He remains one of the most experienced players in the red-ball squad.
He has not been part of the T20 or ODI teams since playing at home against England in January. He was also left out of Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup squad earlier this year. For now, his focus will be on Test cricket as a player.
Quotes: What the Board Said
SLC said it welcomes his continued availability and looks forward to his further contributions to the team. In its release, the board confirmed that De Silva would stay in the squad pool for the Pakistan series if selected. Cricket writers have described the move as a mature decision that allows the team to choose a new leader before the next assignment.
Note for the writer: please add a verified comment from the selectors, a former player or the new captain when it is available. Do not publish invented quotes.
Impact: Who Could Lead Sri Lanka Next?
The biggest question is who will take over. Sri Lanka has not named a new Test captain, and some reports say that wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis is expected to be a leading candidate. This is not official, so readers should wait for the announcement from SLC. Sri Lanka also uses different captains for the white-ball formats, so searches such as Sri Lanka ODI captain and Sri Lanka Cricket captain T20 will lead to different names.
The timing is also important. Sri Lanka will face Pakistan in two Tests in Pakistan, with the first match starting in Rawalpindi on November 9 and the second in Lahore on November 17. A new captain will have only a few weeks to prepare, and he will have to deal with a strong home side on pitches that can be very demanding.
For the wider region, the series is one of the main events of the Test calendar in November. The move also shows a growing trend in Asian cricket, where teams are trying to hand leadership to younger players after poor results.
Conclusion: What Happens Next
The selection committee is expected to announce the new captain together with the squad for the Pakistan series. Fans will also wait to see whether De Silva is picked as a batter and all-rounder, or rested.
Sri Lanka will then travel to Pakistan for the two Tests. Further updates will follow once the new captain and squad are confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who removed Virat Kohli from captaincy?
Virat Kohli’s captaincy ended in stages. He first stepped down as India’s T20I captain after the 2021 T20 World Cup. In December 2021, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) then announced that Rohit Sharma would lead the ODI team, which meant Kohli was removed as ODI captain. The decision caused a public debate, as Kohli said later that he had been informed only shortly before the squad announcement. In January 2022, Kohli resigned as Test captain after a series loss in South Africa. So his captaincy ended partly through his own decisions and partly through a BCCI decision. Readers should check official statements from BCCI and Kohli for exact details.
Who is the current Test captain of Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka does not have a confirmed Test captain at the moment. Dhananjaya de Silva stepped down on Thursday, October 8, with immediate effect, and Sri Lanka Cricket has not yet named his successor. The selectors are expected to announce a new captain when they pick the squad for the two-Test series against Pakistan, which starts in Rawalpindi on November 9. Some media reports say that Kusal Mendis could take over, but that has not been officially confirmed. Until SLC makes an announcement, readers should be careful with websites that still list De Silva as captain, since some of them may not have been updated.
Will Kohli become captain again?
There is no indication that Virat Kohli will become a captain again. Kohli retired from Test cricket in 2025, and from T20 internationals in 2024, so he is not available for those formats. India’s selectors have also named younger captains for the different formats, with Shubman Gill leading in Tests and ODIs and Suryakumar Yadav in T20Is. Kohli could still play for his franchise or in other competitions, but no official statement suggests that he will return as an India captain. Because selections can change quickly, readers should follow announcements from the BCCI and the player himself for the latest news.
