Dhananjaya de Silva takes charge as Sri Lanka Test captain

Sri Lanka Cricket Board has made a significant change in their Test leadership, with Dhananjaya de Silva taking the helm from Dimuth Karunaratne as the team's new captain. Sri Lanka's chief selector, Upul Tharanga, confirmed the transition, marking de Silva as the 18th player from Sri Lanka to lead the Test squad.

Karunaratne, who served as captain for 30 Tests, saw a balanced tenure with 12 victories, 12 losses, and six draws. Notably, his early stint included a historic Test series win in South Africa in 2019, a milestone that saw Sri Lanka become the first Asian team to achieve this feat and the third globally.

Karunaratne assumed leadership during a turbulent period in Sri Lankan cricket, bringing stability and a composed atmosphere to the team. His batting performance soared during his captaincy, evident in his average of 49.86, significantly higher than his career average of 40.93. His reign also saw him reach the top of the Test batting rankings, establishing himself as a dependable opener.

Sri Lanka Cricket enters transitional phase

The newly appointed captain, Dhananjaya de Silva, brings a wealth of experience from his 51 Test appearances, boasting ten centuries and 13 fifties. With a solid record of 3,301 runs at an average of 39.77 and 34 wickets at 57.29, de Silva will step into his leadership role following successful contributions to the team's performance.

Sri Lanka have recently witnessed a shuffle in leadership, with Kusal Mendis and Wanindu Hasaranga appointed as captains for the ODI and T20I teams, respectively. De Silva's first challenge as Test captain will come against Afghanistan in an one-off Test starting on February 6, followed by a series of two Tests against Bangladesh in February. The Sri Lankan team will look forward to his leadership as they embark on this new chapter in their Test cricket journey.