Dhananjaya de Silva, the captain of Sri Lanka, tweeted on Monday that he was happy with Kamindu Mendis’s return to the lengthier version of the game. Despite scoring a half-century on his debut, Kamindu, who played his lone Test match in July 2022 at Galle against Australia, has been out of favor for the past two years.
But when he did get one, he took full advantage of it against Bangladesh in the opening two-match Test series, smashing hundreds in each of the next two innings to contribute to a decisive 322-run victory over the hosts.
“However, I’m quite pleased with Kamindu’s return. After their thrilling victory at the Sylhet International Stadium on Monday, Dhananjaya told reporters, “I think he’s made the most of the opportunity he’s been given. He was knocking on the door of the national side for quite some time.”
Additionally, I’ve batted in earlier in the number seven spot; I believe that role fits him. He is strong, intelligent, and has good technique. Thus, I don’t think we made a mistake in choosing him,” he stated, going on to say that they had given Sadeera Samarawickrama a break since they wanted him to address his shortcomings and assess Kamindu’s current situation.
“Sadeera, he’s also had opportunities, but I don’t think he’s taken use of them lately. In addition, he didn’t score well in the ODIs, therefore it was decided to give him a rest. “He hasn’t been let go,” he declared.
“The idea is for him to address his shortcomings and then be given another opportunity to rejoin the team. That will clear his head as well. Furthermore, Kamindu has been performing exceptionally well, thus the plan was to maximize his potential.
“I’m thrilled to be the captain, but there is still room for development. Items that require prompt resolution and discussion with the coaching staff. When it comes to batting, there is undoubtedly space for improvement, so before the next tour, it is critical that we address those areas of weakness. If others score runs, I won’t actually have too much time to myself in the middle.
“We sent out three seamers because it appeared to be a pitch that would be good for fast bowling. In the end, it was profitable. The wicket was fading because the game is ongoing daily. For the quick bowlers, the pace was decreasing. The way they bowled throughout this game made me very delighted.
“At home, we play with three seamers. The skipper has possibilities for taking wickets if, in my opinion, he can get the new ball moving in any wicket. I am pleased to go with the fast bowlers instead of the spinners,” he said.
