Kusal Mendis Replacements- Sri Lanka Finalise 2 Names For India Tests

Sri Lanka team [Source: AFP]

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is actively searching its wicketkeeping option for the upcoming two-match Test series against India. Sri Lanka’s regular stumper, Kusal Mendis, was recently ruled out of the series owing to a hamstring injury he sustained during the LPL 2026 season.

The SLC is evaluating one experienced campaigner and another uncapped prospect as potential replacement for Kusal Mendis for the Test series against India. 

Sri Lanka narrows down wicketkeeping search to two options

According to reports, the SLC has narrowed down its wicketkeeping search to two options as a replacement for injured batter Kusal Mendis for the upcoming Test series against India. 

The report states that the board is evaluating experienced campaigner Niroshan Dickwella for his possible return, considering the 33-year-old last played Test cricket for Sri Lanka back in March 2023. 

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Another potential wicketkeeping candidate for Sri Lanka is uncapped star Anjala Bandara. It is worth noting that Bandara has previously played 31 first-class matches in his career for teams like Sri Lanka A, Sri Lanka Emerging Players, Colombo, Jaffna and Dambulla. 

Both Niroshan Dickwella and Anjala Bandara are already with Sri Lanka's national squad in Galle, where the team is currently training to prepare for the forthcoming Test series against the visitors. 

How will Kusal Mendis’ absence impact Sri Lanka?

Kusal Mendis, Sri Lanka’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter has played 75 matches so far in his Test career. The cricketer has aggregated nearly 5,000 runs in the format with 10 hundreds and 23 fifties, with an average of 36.36.

Mendis was also a part of the Sri Lankan side that recently toured West Indies for a two-match series. One of the most experienced members in the current national line-up, the 31-year-old recently sustained a hamstring injury while playing the LPL 2026 season for the Colombo franchise. 

His absence has certainly landed a huge blow to Sri Lanka’s prospects, considering his experience and middle-order dexterity would have proven vital to his team’s WTC 2025-27 ambitions. 

Niroshan Dickwella and Anjala Bandara’s track record

With SLC looking towards Niroshan Dickwella and Anjala Bandara as potential replacements for injured Kusal Mendis, both players hold stellar records in first-class cricket. 

Dickwella has minted 2,757 Test runs in his career after 96 innings spanning 54 matches. The cricketer has also struck 22 half-centuries in the process. 

However, the 33-year-old played the last of his 54 Tests for Sri Lanka way back in March 2023 during a series in New Zealand. He is currently representing the Dambulla Sixers franchise in the LPL 2026 season in Sri Lanka.

Anjala Bandara, meanwhile, averages a staggering 65.85 in first-class cricket. The youngster has already aggregated 2,239 runs in just 46 innings of the format with seven tons and seven fifties. 

Moreover, Bandara also recently went up against Team India bowlers in Colombo, albeit for the Sri Lanka Cricket XI team for a three-day warm-up match. 

As of now, it remains to be seen if the SLC will opt for Dickwella’s experience or Bandara’s youthful exuberance as a replacement of Kusal Mendis against India. 

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