Sri Lanka limited overs captain Kusal Mendis will miss the remainder of the Lanka Premier League 2026 after suffering a right hamstring problem while representing Colombo Kaps.
The injury occurred on 19 July at the SSC in Colombo, when Mendis felt discomfort while attempting a run during Kaps’ six wicket victory against Kandy Royals. Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed that he would leave the competition and report to the National High Performance Centre to begin rehabilitation.
With Mendis unavailable, Kamindu Mendis has been appointed to lead Colombo Kaps for the rest of the campaign.
His absence creates concern for the franchise and Sri Lanka ahead of their two Test home series against India, beginning on 15 August. Mendis is an important senior player across formats and was expected to take the wicketkeeping duties. However, officials have not provided a recovery timeline or confirmed whether he will be fit.
The setback arrives during an excellent period of form. He opened the LPL season with an impressive 79 from 53 balls against Galle Gallants.
Earlier this year, Mendis enjoyed a Pakistan Super League campaign, scoring 550 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 168.19. His international numbers in 2026 have also been strong, with 408 runs from 14 innings at a strike rate of 130.35. In one day internationals, he has collected 211 runs from four innings at an average of 70.33.
Colombo Kaps must now adapt quickly under Kamindu, while Sri Lanka will monitor Mendis’ recovery before the India series.
