Dhananjaya de Silva relinquishes Sri Lanka's Test captaincy: ‘Mantle should go down to the next generation’

Dhananjaya de Silva left the role immediately, saying he wanted to give younger players a chance to lead the team.

Updated on: Oct 8, 2026, 14:24:38 IST

Written by Aditya Maheshwari

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Dhananjaya de Silva announced on Thursday that he is stepping down as Sri Lanka's Test captain. The 35-year-old left the role right away, saying he wanted to give younger players a chance to lead the team.

Dhananjaya de Silva steps down as Sri Lanka Test captain. (AFP)

He will still be available to play for the team. De Silva became captain in January 2024 and led the side for more than two years. He shared his decision to step down in a letter to Sri Lanka Cricket's selection committee.

"It's my genuine opinion that the mantle should go down to the next generation," de Silva said in a letter addressed to Sri Lanka's selection committee.

Ashley de Silva, the CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket, thanked Dhananjaya for his contribution in the longest format.

"Sri Lanka Cricket wishes him the very best for the remainder of his career and thanks him for the leadership he provided to our Test team."

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The 35-year-old played 69 Tests and scored over 4,400 runs, including 13 centuries. De Silva led Sri Lanka in 18 Tests after taking over from Dimuth Karunaratne. The island nation won seven of those matches. As captain, he scored 1130 runs at an average of 36.45 and took nine wickets. During his tenure, he led Sri Lanka to series wins over Afghanistan and New Zealand at home, while outclassing Bangladesh both at home and away.

Sri Lanka 7th at WTC points table

The ongoing World Test Championship isn't going well for Sri Lanka, as they have won only one of six matches and are almost out of contention to qualify for the final. With De Silva stepping down from the role, the new skipper taking charge won't have much pressure in this cycle and will have some time during the transition phase.

Sri Lanka will play two Tests in Pakistan, with the first starting in Rawalpindi on November 9 and the second beginning in Lahore on November 17.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aditya Maheshwari
Aditya Maheshwari is a Chief Content Producer and sports journalist with over seven years of experience covering the sports beat across formats and platforms. A cricket-first reporter by profession, he also follows football closely and considers it an integral part of his sporting journey. His work is shaped by a strong on-ground understanding of the game and an ability to translate match-day moments into clear, engaging stories that connect with readers across digital audiences. Over the years, he has developed a balanced approach that combines factual accuracy with narrative clarity, ensuring that both breaking developments and deeper insights are presented with context. Aditya has reported from the field at several major tournaments, including the ICC Cricket World Cup, the Indian Premier League, and the Indian Super League. First-hand coverage of these events has strengthened his ability to read the pulse of high-pressure contests, whether through live reporting, post-match analysis, or long-form storytelling. Working closely around teams, venues, and evolving storylines has helped him develop a strong sense of timing and editorial judgment. While cricket remains his primary focus, Aditya regularly reports on football and keeps a close watch on other sports such as tennis, hockey, and badminton. His wide-ranging interest allows him to approach stories with broader perspective, understanding how different sporting ecosystems function and evolve. Comfortable in fast-paced digital newsrooms, Aditya is well-versed in modern sports coverage, from live blogs and real-time updates to in-depth analysis and audience-focused storytelling. He believes in keeping sports writing simple, accurate, and grounded, with emphasis on clarity over complexity. At the core of his work lies a commitment to credible reporting and telling stories that go beyond the numbers on the scoreboard, highlighting the people, preparation, and pressure behind every performance.Read More

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