‘Mantle should go down to the next generation’ – Dhananjaya de Silva relinquishes Test captaincy

Dhananjaya de Silva has resigned as Sri Lanka Test captain with immediate effect, Sri Lanka Cricket announced on October 8, 2026. The 35-year-old all-rounder informed the Selection Committee of his decision, explaining that he believes leadership responsibilities should pass to the next generation of players. However, De Silva confirmed he will remain available for national selection across all formats.

Appointed in January 2024 to succeed Dimuth Karunaratne, De Silva led Sri Lanka in 18 Tests, finishing with seven wins, eight losses, and three draws. Sri Lanka Cricket has not yet announced his successor ahead of their upcoming two-match Test series against Pakistan in November.