3 players who could replace Wanindu Hasaranga as Sri Lanka’s T20 captain ft. Kusal Mendis
Following six months in command, Wanindu Hasaranga stepped down as Sri Lanka's T20 captain on July 11. His annoucement comes just weeks before the three-match T20I series against India set to begin on July 26.
Hasaranga led Sri Lanka in 10 matches, including their campaign at the 2024 T20 World Cup. Under his leadership, they lost to South Africa and Bangladesh in the group stage and failed to qualify for the Super-Eights.
In his letter of resignation to SLC, Hasaranga wrote:
“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.”
The all-rounder is currently playing in the Lanka Premier League, leading the Kandy Falcons.
There is now a task ahead of the Sri Lanka board to choose a new captain for the T20 team. With another T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in India in 2026, the board will be looking to build around the new leader.
Here's a look at three players who could replace Wanindu Hasaranga as Sri Lanka’s T20 captain:
#3 Pathum Nissanka
Young Sri Lankan batter Pathum Nissanka is one of the candidates to become Sri Lanka’s captain in T20s. Nissanka has represented the island nation in 51 T20I games and has scored 1,281 runs, with 10 half-centuries to his name.
Nissanka has also played in nine Tests and 55 ODIs. He became the first Sri Lankan to score a double century in ODIs earlier this year. There is a possibility that the board would look to invest in the 26-year-old for the long term.
#2 Charith Asalanka
Left-handed batter Charith Asalanka is another option on the table. He has represented Sri Lanka in 47 T20Is and has scored more than 1,000 runs. Asalanka is currently leading the Jaffna Kings in the Lanka Premier League; his side sit at the top of the table, having won four games out of six.
In the first two matches of the series against Bangladesh earlier this year, he also served as the stand-in skipper in Hasaranga's absence.
With a good deal of leadership experience under his belt, Asalanka could be a worthy choice as Sri Lanka's next T20I captain.
#1 Kusal Mendis
Kusal Mendis is one of Sri Lanka's most seasoned batters. He has represented the island nation in 63 Tests, 130 ODIs, and 67 T20s.
The right-handed batter is currently the captain of Sri Lanka in the ODI format. In 16 matches under his leadership, they have won eight and lost seven, while one ended in no result. Mendis previously led Sri Lanka in the 2014 Under-19 World Cup.
If chosen, Mendis would become the captain in both white-ball formats, which would certainly aid his development as a leader.