ILT20

Biography

Kamindu Mendis, born on September 30, 1998, in Galle, Sri Lanka, began his cricketing journey at an early age at Richmond College. Known for his rare ability to bowl with both arms, Mendis quickly caught the eye of selectors, not only for his unique bowling skills but also for his stylish batting, setting the stage for a promising career.

He made his List A debut on November 30, 2015, and continued to impress in domestic cricket, gaining selection for prestigious tournaments such as the Under-19 Cricket World Cups in 2016 and 2018. As captain of the Sri Lankan Under-19 team in both tournaments, Mendis demonstrated his leadership abilities. His consistent domestic performances led to appearances in Sri Lanka's Super Provincial tournaments and the Lanka Premier League, elevating his profile in the cricketing world.

Mendis made his T20I debut for Sri Lanka on October 27, 2018, against England, followed by his ODI debut on March 10, 2019, against South Africa. His versatility was further showcased when he was appointed vice-captain for Sri Lanka's campaigns in the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup and the South Asian Games, where Sri Lanka secured a silver medal.

His remarkable Test debut came on July 8, 2022, against Australia, where Mendis scored a maiden fifty and formed a crucial partnership with Dinesh Chandimal, helping Sri Lanka achieve an innings victory.

Kamindu Mendis rapidly carved a unique place in world cricket with a series of historic achievements, including a record-breaking streak of 50-plus scores in each of his first eight Test matches, a level of consistency never seen before in the game’s long history. He also became the joint-third fastest player and the fastest Asian to reach 1,000 Test runs, getting there in just 13 innings, matching the great Sir Don Bradman. His prolific run earned him the ICC Men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year award in 2024 and a spot in the ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year, while he also etched his name in the record books by becoming the first batter to score centuries in both innings of a Test while batting at No. 7 or lower. Often serving as Sri Lanka’s anchor in crucial series, he consistently finished as one of their leading run-scorers.

Mendis also made his presence felt in franchise and T20 cricket after being picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad for the 2025 IPL season, where he debuted and grabbed attention with his rare ability to bowl with both arms, even switching arms within an over, alongside sharp fielding that earned him the ‘Catch of the Season’ award. Mendis featured in Sri Lanka’s campaign at the 2026 T20 World Cup, scoring 117 runs in seven matches, and his all-round promise was further rewarded with a retention from SRH for the 2026 IPL season.