In a significant development for Sri Lanka’s cricketing landscape, the charismatic Dhananjaya de Silva has been appointed as the new captain of the national Test team, succeeding the seasoned campaigner Dimuth Karunaratne. The change in leadership comes on the heels of Sri Lanka’s disappointing 2-0 defeat at home in the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle opener against Babar Azam-led Pakistan.
Karunaratne, who led the team in 30 Test matches, expressed his desire to step down from the captaincy in March 2023, emphasizing the need for a fresh leader to guide the team through the entire WTC cycle. Under his stewardship, Sri Lanka experienced mixed fortunes, winning and losing 12 Test matches each, with a win percentage of 40% in red-ball cricket. Karunaratne’s decision paved the way for Dhananjaya de Silva to become the 18th player in history to captain Sri Lanka in Test cricket.
Dhananjaya de Silva, a star batting all-rounder, faces a challenging initiation into captaincy, particularly with his first overseas assignment being a three-match series against England in England scheduled for August. Although the 32-year-old has a wealth of experience with 51 Test matches under his belt, he is yet to captain Sri Lanka in an international game.
Karunaratne’s decision to relinquish the captaincy was reinforced by Sri Lanka’s underwhelming performance against Pakistan, where they suffered a defeat by four wickets in Galle and a staggering innings and 222-run loss at the SSC in Colombo. The disappointing series prompted the selectors to expedite the transition, and Dhananjaya de Silva emerged as the chosen leader.
Dhananjaya, known for his resilience and all-round skills, has accumulated 3301 runs in Test cricket, featuring 10 centuries and 13 fifties. As he takes on the captaincy, all eyes will be on how he steers the team through the challenges that lie ahead in the fiercely competitive international cricketing arena.
Sri Lankan cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the era under Dhananjaya de Silva’s captaincy, hoping for a resurgence in the team’s fortunes and a successful journey in the upcoming World Test Championship cycle.
