Thursday Jun 11, 2026
Thursday Jun 11, 2026
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Head coach Gary Kirsten
Sri Lanka’s white ball captain Kusal Mendis
Kusal Mendis reinstalled as captain of Sri Lanka’s white ball teams – ODI and T20Is believes that new coach Gary Kirsten and his team of coaches could make a big difference to the national team as they embark on a tour of the West Indies.
“I have practiced with the squad for about 2-3 weeks and I see a marked difference that they (the coaching staff) can make a big change with the squad,” said Mendis before the team’s departure to Jamaica where they will play the ODI and T20I series consisting of a total of six matches at Sabina Park.
“The head coach has earlier coached in India and I believe it will be easy for him to coach us with that experience. Whoever comes as coach it is our duty as players to give 100% at practice. I am very happy with the coaching staff.”
“The conditions in the West Indies are going to be different so we must adapt to it as quickly as possible. We have come to know that the pitches will have a little bit of bounce. After we go there only we will be able to assess it. We have watched matches played previously at this venue and how our batsmen should adapt. With our potential and our strength we have decided how we should play under those conditions,” said Mendis.
“In the bowling I have given the responsibilities to Asitha Fernando and Dushmantha Chameera and from the batting point of view there is Pathum (Nissanka), Charith (Asalanka) and me. I have told my batsmen that whether it’s a T20I or ODI match we have to give the bowlers a good target to bowl at. We have to play our brand of cricket and we are not bothered about the opposition.”
Mendis said that his confidence was a bit high having returned for a successful stint with the bat from playing in the Pakistan Super League helping Peshawar Zalmi win the title being the tournament’s second highest scorer after Babar Azam with 550 runs (avg. 55.00) and strike rate of 168.19.
“I didn’t do much with my batting. I practiced a lot and found out what my weak points were. I am hoping to extend my run with the national team.”
Mendis believed that whoever is the captain and even if there are a number of senior players in the team their target was the same - to win and to finish each and every match on a high note.
Sri Lanka begins the tour with the three-match ODI series in Jamaica on 3, 6 and 8 June followed by the three-match T20I series at the same venue on 11, 13 and 14 June. The two Test matches at Antigua will take place from 25-29 June and 3-7 July. – [ST]
