Dhananjaya de Silva has stepped down as Sri Lanka’s Test captain, bringing an end to his stint as the leader of the red-ball side. Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed on October 8 that de Silva had resigned from the captaincy with immediate effect, although the experienced all-rounder remains available to represent the national team as a player.

The decision comes after nearly three years at the helm. De Silva was appointed Sri Lanka’s Test captain ahead of the 2024 season, succeeding Dimuth Karunaratne and becoming the country’s 18th Test captain.

Why did Dhananjaya de Silva step down?

De Silva explained that he believes the time has come for Sri Lanka to hand leadership responsibilities to a younger generation.

“It’s my genuine opinion that the mantle should go down to the next generation,” de Silva said in a letter addressed to the Selection Committee.

The decision does not signal the end of his international career. The 35-year-old has made it clear that he wants to continue playing Test cricket and remains available for selection.

Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva also thanked the all-rounder for his contribution as captain and welcomed his continued availability as a player.

“Sri Lanka Cricket wishes him the very best for the remainder of his career and thanks him for the leadership he provided to our Test team,” Ashley de Silva said.

Dhananjaya de Silva’s captaincy record in Tests

Dhananjaya took over the Sri Lankan Test captaincy at a time when the team was looking to establish greater stability in the longest format. He led Sri Lanka in 18 Tests between 2024 and 2026, finishing his tenure with a mixed record. Under his leadership, Sri Lanka recorded seven wins, eight defeats and three draws, giving de Silva a 38.88% win percentage as Test captain.

His tenure included several challenging assignments, both at home and overseas. Under his leadership, Sri Lanka competed in the ICC World Test Championship cycle while continuing to develop a new generation of players.

Dhananjaya’s captaincy period also included a notable series victory over Bangladesh in 2025. Sri Lanka won the second Test by an innings and 78 runs to secure a 1-0 series victory after the opening match ended in a draw.

The team also faced difficult tours, including defeats against Australia and South Africa, highlighting the challenge of rebuilding a competitive Test side.

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De Silva remains an important batter for Sri Lanka

While his captaincy has now ended, Dhananjaya remains an important part of Sri Lanka’s batting unit.

He has scored more than 4,400 Test runs, including 13 centuries and 20 half-centuries, with a highest score of 173.

His performances in 2024 were particularly impressive. He scored 710 Test runs at an average of 41.76, including two centuries and six fifties. In 2023, he was even more prolific, scoring 486 runs at an outstanding average of 60.75.

The year 2026 has also produced an important hundred for de Silva. He scored 120 against the West Indies in Antigua, although Sri Lanka eventually suffered a heavy defeat in that Test.

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