Sri Lanka white-ball captain Kusal Mendis has been officially ruled out of the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL) season following a hamstring injury. The setback occurred during the Colombo Kaps' six-wicket victory over the Kandy Royals this past Sunday. In response to his departure, Kamindu Mendis has been appointed to lead the Kaps for the remainder of the tournament.
An official release from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) detailed the incident, stating, "Mendis sustained a right hamstring injury while attempting a run during the Colombo Kaps' match against the Kandy Royals on 19 July at the SSC, Colombo." The board confirmed that, accordingly, he will return to the National High Performance Centre to commence his rehabilitation program.
The injury presents a significant challenge for both the Kaps and the Sri Lanka national team, which is preparing for a two-Test home series against India beginning on August 15. While Mendis is a vital member of the national setup across all formats and was expected to handle wicketkeeping duties during the upcoming series, there is currently no confirmation regarding the expected duration of his recovery.
The timing of the injury is particularly difficult as Mendis has been performing at a high level. Before this injury, he scored 79 runs off 53 balls in the Kaps' season opener against the Galle Gallants. His recent form also includes 550 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 168.19 during this season's PSL. Furthermore, in 2026, he has accumulated 408 runs in 14 innings for the national team at a strike rate of 130.35, while his four ODI innings this year have yielded 211 runs at an average of 70.33.
Kusal Mendis player page headshot cutout, 2021
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