Dhananjaya de Silva has decided to relinquish his role as Sri Lanka’s Test captain to “pass the leadership baton to the next generation.” Despite stepping down, he remains available for team selection for their next Test series against Pakistan, scheduled to start on 9th November in Rawalpindi. The selection panel has not yet announced his replacement.
Sri Lanka is unlikely to finish in the top two of the current World Test Championship cycle, which might have influenced de Silva’s decision, allowing new leadership to gain experience ahead of the next cycle. “Sri Lanka Cricket wishes [De Silva] the very best for the remainder of his career and thanks him for the leadership he provided to our Test team,” said SLC chief executive Ashley de Silva, adding that SLC “welcomes his continued availability as a player.”
His tenure came during a steady phase for Sri Lanka’s Test team, which has experienced recent series losses against the West Indies and India, both with a 1-0 margin. Under his leadership, the team has accumulated seven wins, eight losses, and three draws. The year 2024 was particularly successful, marked by a 2-0 series victory in Bangladesh and a significant win at The Oval, although they lost the series 2-1 overall against England, followed by a 2-0 win over New Zealand at home. However, there were also tough patches, particularly a sequence of four losses to South Africa and Australia between late 2024 and early 2025.
An enduring issue during de Silva’s captaincy was the infrequent scheduling of Test matches. After winning a 1-0 series at home against Bangladesh in June 2025, Sri Lanka faced a year-long hiatus without any Tests. The current cycle includes only 12 planned Tests, which is the minimum requirement. De Silva has often highlighted the difficulties posed by such a sparse schedule, especially affecting Test specialists.
De Silva’s resignation is a part of broader shifts in the men’s teams’ leadership and management. Earlier this year, Kusal Mendis was appointed white-ball captain, taking over from Charith Asalanka. Mendis is also considered a potential candidate for the Test captaincy.
