Prolific All-Rounder Replaces Dimuth Karunaratne As Sri Lanka's Test Captain
Dhananjaya has played 51 Test matches for Sri Lanka (Twitter)
In a huge move marking the dawn of a new era in Sri Lankan cricket, experienced all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva has been appointed as the new Test captain, taking over the reins from Dimuth Karunaratne.
Sri Lanka Cricket names Dhananjaya de Silva as new Test captain
This decision, confirmed by chief selector Upul Tharanga, sees De Silva become the 18th player to lead Sri Lanka in the longest format of the game. His appointment is paired with the equally crucial role of Kusal Mendis, who assumes the position of Vice Captain.
The change in leadership comes at a significant juncture in Sri Lanka's cricket history. Karunaratne's tenure, spanning 30 Tests, was a mixed bag of wins and challenges. Under his captaincy, Sri Lanka clinched a historic series win in South Africa in 2019, a victory that etched their name in cricketing history as the first Asian team to conquer South African soil in Tests.
De Silva's promotion to captaincy is not just a change of guard but a reward of his impressive cricketing journey. Amassing 3,301 runs at an average of 39.77 in 51 Test matches, including 10 centuries, and taking 34 wickets, his all-round prowess is indisputable.
Beyond the Test arena, De Silva has been a consistent performer in limited-overs cricket, contributing significantly in 90 ODIs and 39 T20Is.
While De Silva takes charge of the Test side, the ODI and T20I teams will see Kusal Mendis and Wanindu Hasaranga as their respective leaders. This move, although diverging from Tharanga's preference for a uniform captain across formats, highlights a tailored approach to leadership, considering the unique demands of each format.
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