Who Is Likely To Be Sri Lanka’s Next Captain? Three Players, Including Kusal Mendis Likely To Replace Hasaranga In The Team

Sri Lanka Cricket Team’s captain Wanindu Harasanga has resigned from his position after leading the men for 6 months. Sri Lanka is set to compete against India in a 3-match T20I series as well as ODI series in India’s tour of Sri Lanka. Kusal Mendis likely to replace Sri Lanka Captain Wanindu Hasaranga.

The matches for India’s tour of Sri Lanka start on 26 July with 3 T20 matches. The T20I series will be followed by 3 ODI matches as well. This will be India’s first white-ball bilateral trip to Sri Lanka since 2021. The tour will also mark Gautam Gambhir’s first assignment as team India’s head coach.

Wanindu Hasaranga resigns as Sri Lanka captain

After six months as captain, Wanindu Hasaranga resigned as Sri Lanka’s T20 captain on July 11, just weeks before the three-match T20I series against India starting on July 26.

Hasaranga led Sri Lanka in 10 matches, including the 2024 T20 World Cup. Under his leadership, the team lost to South Africa and Bangladesh in the group stage and did not qualify for the Super Eights.

“Sri Lanka will always have my utmost best efforts as a player, and I will support and stand by my team and leadership as always.” Hasaranga wrote in his resignation.

These are the probable captains for Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lanka Cricket board is now entrusted with the task of choosing the next captain for the team right before the T20 series against India. These three players could replace Wanindu Hasaranga as Sri Lanka’s T20 captain.

Pathum Nissanka: Pathum Nissanka, a candidate for Sri Lanka’s T20 captaincy, has played 51 T20Is, scoring 1,281 runs with 10 half-centuries. He also has nine Test and 55 ODI appearances, including being the first Sri Lankan to score a double century in ODIs this year. With these records, the 26 year old looks like a good option.

Charith Asalanka: Left-handed batter Charith Asalanka is another candidate for Sri Lanka’s T20 captaincy. With over 1,000 runs in 47 T20Is, Asalanka currently leads the Jaffna Kings in the Lanka Premier League, topping the table with four wins in six games. He also served as stand-in captain against Bangladesh earlier this year.

Kusal mendis: Kusal Mendis, one of Sri Lanka’s most experienced batters, has played 63 Tests, 130 ODIs, and 67 T20Is. Currently the ODI captain, his leadership has seen eight wins, seven losses, and one no-result in 16 matches. Previously, he led Sri Lanka in the 2014 Under-19 World Cup.

If chosen, Mendis would captain both white-ball formats, enhancing his leadership development. Mendis is currently the number 1 choice for the captaincy position due to his extensive skills.

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