Dhananjaya De Silva Steps Down As Sri Lanka Test Captain

Sri Lanka Cricket has officially confirmed that Dhananjaya de Silva has stepped down as captain of the national Test team with immediate effect, bringing an end to his leadership tenure that began in January 2024. The experienced all-rounder communicated his decision through a letter addressed to Sri Lanka's national selection committee, explaining that he believes the time has come for a new generation of players to take responsibility for leading the country's Test side. “It’s my genuine opinion that the mantle should go down to the next generation,” de Silva stated in his letter. Despite stepping away from the captaincy, de Silva confirmed that he remains available to represent Sri Lanka in Test cricket. His decision therefore marks a change in leadership rather than the end of his international playing career. De Silva was appointed Sri Lanka's Test captain in January 2024, succeeding Dimuth Karunaratne and becoming the country's 18th Test captain. During his tenure, he was responsible for guiding the national side through international Test assignments and the ICC World Test Championship. Sri Lanka Cricket acknowledged his contribution following the announcement. SLC Chief Executive Officer Ashley de Silva thanked the outgoing captain for his service and leadership, while wishing him success for the remainder of his career. The decision comes at an important stage for Sri Lankan Test cricket as the national team looks to strengthen its performances and develop its next generation of international players. With de Silva stepping aside, attention now turns to Sri Lanka's next Test captain. The official announcement has not named his successor, leaving the selection committee to determine who will lead the team into its next chapter. Although his captaincy has ended, Dhananjaya de Silva remains an experienced member of Sri Lanka's Test setup and could continue contributing with both bat and ball as the team enters a new leadership era.