Dhananjaya de Silva Resigns as Sri Lanka Test Cricket Captain

October 8, Kathmandu – Sri Lanka’s Test captain Dhananjaya de Silva has resigned from the captaincy with immediate effect. The 35-year-old de Silva confirmed that he will remain available as a player for the national team. In a letter sent to the selection committee of Sri Lanka Cricket, he stated that it is time to hand over the leadership to the next generation. “In my honest opinion, it is time to transfer the leadership responsibility to the next generation,” he wrote in the letter.

De Silva led Sri Lanka’s Test team from 2024 to 2026. Under his captaincy, Sri Lanka played 18 Test matches, winning seven, losing eight, and drawing three. He was appointed the Test captain in 2024 following Dimuth Karunaratne’s retirement from Test cricket.

During his tenure, Sri Lanka secured series victories at home against Afghanistan and Bangladesh, as well as on the tour to Bangladesh. They also won a home Test series against New Zealand. In only his second match as captain, de Silva scored centuries in both innings against Bangladesh in Sylhet, leading Sri Lanka to a comprehensive 328-run victory. Throughout his captaincy, he compiled two additional centuries and maintained a batting average of 36.45.

Ashley de Silva, Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka Cricket, extended his best wishes to Dhananjaya for the remainder of his playing career and expressed gratitude for his leadership of the Test team. Sri Lanka Cricket has not yet announced the name of the new Test captain to replace de Silva.