Kusal Mendis scripts history with century on Test captaincy debut against Pakistan

At Rawalpindi on November 11, 2026, Kusal Mendis walked out to bat with Sri Lanka in a difficult position at 155 for 4, trailing Pakistan’s first-innings total by 279 runs. The 31-year-old responded with an unbeaten 117, becoming the first Sri Lankan captain to score a century in his very first Test in charge and the 37th player in the history of the format to achieve the milestone.

Mendis reached three figures off the third delivery of the 92nd over, hitting a boundary off Razaullah to complete his 11th Test century. His knock anchored an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 249 runs alongside Dhananjaya de Silva, who contributed an equally impressive unbeaten 167, his 14th Test century, to put Sri Lanka in a commanding position.

Mendis had taken over the full-time Test captaincy from de Silva in October 2026. The pair’s 249-run partnership underlined the strength of Sri Lanka’s middle order and gave the tourists a significant advantage in the first Test.

Among the other captains to have scored centuries on their debut in charge, Virat Kohli struck 115 against Australia in Adelaide in 2014, while Steve Smith made 133 against India in Brisbane the same month. Joe Root posted 190 against South Africa at Lord’s in 2017. Andrew Strauss was the second player to score a century on Test captaincy debut against Pakistan specifically.

Shubman Gill added 147 against England in Leeds in 2025, and Wiaan Mulder’s unbeaten 367 against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in 2025 stands as one of the most remarkable scores in that elite company. Other players who have scored centuries on Test captaincy debut include Sunil Gavaskar, Greg Chappell, Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen.

How does Mendis’ knock fit into Sri Lanka’s all-time run-scoring records?

During this innings, Mendis crossed 13,000 runs in international cricket across all formats, becoming the eighth Sri Lankan batter to reach that landmark. He joins a distinguished list headed by Kumar Sangakkara, who accumulated 27,757 international runs across 587 matches between 2000 and 2015, making him Sri Lanka’s all-time leading run-scorer.

Mahela Jayawardene sits second on that list with 25,688 international runs, while Sanath Jayasuriya occupies third place with 20,966. Mendis’ entry into the 13,000-run club places him firmly among the most prolific batters the island nation has produced.

What is the significance of Mendis replacing de Silva as Test captain?

Mendis took over the Test captaincy from Dhananjaya de Silva in October 2026. The transition placed him at the helm for a challenging tour of Pakistan, and his century in the very first innings of his tenure demonstrated an immediate impact at the top of the leadership order.

De Silva, who scored an unbeaten 167 in the same innings, continued to contribute as a senior batter under the new captain. The 249-run fifth-wicket stand the two shared at Rawalpindi reflected a settled partnership between the outgoing and incoming leaders, giving Sri Lanka a strong platform in the opening Test of the series.