Live Update: Dhananjaya de Silva steps down as Sri Lanka Test ctain Sri Lanka’s next Test assignment is in Pakistan in November, and Dhananjaya de Silva has kept himself available for selection for it The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 The smile of a champion – Mohammed Siraj picked up five wickets in a ten-ball period, India vs Sri Lanka, Asia Cup final, Colombo, September 17, 2023 Alyssa Healy poses with the trophy after Australia retained the Ashes, England vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Women’s Ashes, Taunton, July 18, 2023 Shane Warne bowls the first Test match ball under lights.
Australia v New Zealand 2nd Test, Day One, at the WACA, Perth, Thursday November 20th 1997 Shreyas Iyer struck a bludgeoning half-century, India vs West Indies, 1st T20I, Lucknow, October 6, 2026 Ind vs WI 1st T20I – Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan play contrasting innings in big India win over West Indies “Just get off strike and let him play,” Ishan Kishan said of his proach on a day when Shreyas Iyer was scoring freely while he was not quite in rhythm Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer attacked despite India’s early wickets, India vs West Indies, 1st T20I, Lucknow, October 6, 2026 Everyone thought he was a late-order hitter and an occasional bowler. 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They begin a massive 12 months of cricket with tour to South Africa and doubts over their batting, bowling depth and age profile Pat Cummins talks in the huddle involving Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, and Alex Carey, Australia vs India, WTC final, 3rd day, The Oval, London, June 9, 2023 The South African ctain expects big clashes on the field as the two WTC finalists, with plenty of previous, meet once again Temba Bavuma led South Africa sweep their home season, South Africa vs Pakistan, 2nd Test, Ce Town, 4th day, January 6, 2025 After years of setbacks and self-imposed pressure, a new outlook has given Renshaw the balance to embrace an unexpected three-format international comeback For the players coming into the Australia side after Sandpergate, it was bittersweet, but also a dream come true The Australian team during the national anthems, South Africa v Australia, 4th Test, Johannesburg, 1st day, March 30, 2018 Cameron Green reacts after copping a blow while batting, South Africa vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom, September 30, 2026 The ghosts of Sandpergate still hang over the rivals as Australia make it back to the country for the first Test tour since 2018 Temba Bavuma and Pat Cummins, the two ctains, wait to walk out with their players, Australia vs South Africa, World Test Championship final, Lord’s, June 11, 2025 The win in Darwin is still fresh in the memory but Bangladesh have more than one form concern, while Afghanistan will hope to start afresh under new ctain Rahmat Shah Rahmat Shah raised an important fifty, Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Only Test, Colombo, 4th day, February 5, 2024 Towhid Hridoy’s 350* is the highest first-class score by a Bangladeshi, South Africa A vs Bangladesh A, Potchefstroom, 2nd Test, Day 4, September 2, 2026 Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran continue to be rested from Tests as Afghanistan named squads for a packed all-format season in the UAE Mohammad Nabi picked up his best figures in T20Is, Afghanistan vs Canada, Men’s T20 World Cup, Chennai, February 19, 2026 Ind A vs Aud A 2026 – Mahli Beardman back with a bang to allay fears about Australia’s fast bowling future The 21-year-old WA speedster tore through India A’s line-up with sharp pace to take 4 for 23 for Australia A in just his third match back from a stress fracture Mahli Beardman shaved off India A’s top order, India A vs Australia A, 1st one-dayer, Puducherry, October 6, 2026 Suryansh Shedge celebrates a wicket, India A vs Australia A, 1st one-dayer, Puducherry, October 6, 2026 Nathan McSweeney battled the heat and India A’s spinners to score a match-winning century for Australia A in their first one-day match against India A Nathan McSweeney hits through the off side, India A vs Australia A, 1st one-dayer, Puducherry, October 6, 2026 Priyansh Arya is in India A’s squad to face the visiting Australia A side for three one-dayers, and trusts his high-risk-high-reward game to give him the results Priyansh Arya plays down the ground, Sri Lanka A vs India A, 1st match, One-day tri-series, Dambulla, June 9, 2026 As a left-arm wristspinner who can bat, Shivang Kumar is a point of difference in the teams he plays for, but needs to add greater consistency to his returns to move up the ranks Shivang Kumar is one of the net bowlers with the Indian Test side, Sri Lanka vs India, Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo, August 5, 2026 Dhananjaya se Silva has repeatedly spoken about the significant challenges posed by a bare Test schedule Dhananjaya de Silva walks back after making 59 off 81 balls, South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Durban, 4th day, November 30, 2024 Dhananjaya de Silva has stepped down as Sri Lanka ‘s Test ctain citing a desire to hand over leadership “to the next generation”.
He remains available for selection, with Sri Lanka’s next Test assignment the two-match series against Pakistan , set to begin on November 9 in Rawalpindi. No replacement has yet been named by the selectors yet. With Sri Lanka almost certainly out of the running for a top-two finish in the current World Test Championship cycle , de Silva may also have seen sense in handing over the reins to allow the new leadership the chance to find their feet before the next cycle begins.
“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,” SLC chief executive Ashley de Silva mentioned recently, which also stated that SLC “welcomes his continued availability as a player”. The resignation came during a modest – though not quite disastrous – stretch for the Test side, which has lost both series this year 1-0, first in the West Indies, then at home against India. Overall, Sri Lanka’s record under de Silva is seven wins, eight losses and three draws.
De Silva’s best year as ctain was 2024 as the team recorded a 2-0 series win in Bangladesh, then produced a victory at The Oval (in a series they otherwise lost 2-1), before beating New Zealand 2-0 at home. There was, however, also a stretch of four consecutive defeats against South Africa (away) and Australia (at home), between late 2024 and early 2025. But the most notable feature of Sri Lanka’s Test cricket under his tenure was the infrequency of matches.
After Sri Lanka wrped up a 1-0 home series victory against Bangladesh in June 2025, the team had no Tests on their schedule for a full 12 months. They are also currently in the midst of a WTC cycle that features just 12 Tests for them – the minimum number. De Silva has repeatedly spoken about the significant challenges posed by such a bare schedule, particularly for the Test specialists.
De Silva’s resignation was part of a substantial wave of changes in the leadership and management of the men’s teams. Earlier this year, Kusal Mendis was given the white-ball ctaincy, replacing Charith Asalanka as leader. Mendis is among the players the selectors will consider for Test ctaincy as well.
Sri Lanka’s next Test assignment is in Pakistan in November, and Dhananjaya de Silva has kept himself available for selection for it Dhananjaya de Silva walks back after making 59 off 81 balls, South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Durban, 4th day, November 30, 2024 Sri Lanka’s next Test assignment is in Pakistan in November, and Dhananjaya de Silva has kept himself available for selection for it Sri Lanka’s next Test assignment is in Pakistan in November, and Dhananjaya de Silva has kept himself available for selection for it Twelve-team WTC close to reality, says CA CEO Greenberg Andrew Fidel Fernando is a senior writer at .
