Test Captaincy Ends for Dhananjaya de Silva of Sri Lanka

New Delhi – October 8 – Sri Lanka’s Test side has a new era ahead as Dhananjaya de Silva steps down from the captain’s role. In a formal communication to the selection panel, the all‑rounder expressed his belief that “the captaincy should be handed to the next generation.” He also confirmed his intent to keep playing for the national team.

The Sri Lanka Cricket board thanked him for the period he spent leading the side and wished him success in the remaining phase of his cricketing career.

Appointed in January 2024, de Silva captained 18 Tests, winning seven. He compiled 1,130 runs at a 36.45 average, including three centuries and seven fifties, and also chipped in with nine wickets, his best figures being 2/13.

His inaugural match as captain was a February 2024 encounter with Afghanistan, which Sri Lanka won convincingly by ten wickets. He later steered the team to a 2‑0 series victory over Bangladesh on home turf and contributed to the historic overseas Test win against England – the first in England since 2014 – despite the series ending 1‑2.

Further highlights include a 2‑0 home series whitewash of New Zealand. Yet, the closing months of 2024 and the start of 2025 proved difficult: Sri Lanka lost four consecutive Tests on tours of South Africa and Australia, followed by a 0‑1 defeat to the West Indies and a home series loss to India (0‑1).

De Silva’s last stint as captain culminated in a 0‑1 loss to India. A crucial innings by Sonali Dinusha in the Colombo Test rescued Sri Lanka from an outright sweep, with the third Test ending in a draw.

He has promised to stay in the squad as a senior player and continue to contribute with bat and ball.