Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis: Rawalpindi Centuries and Player Guide — Nov. 11, 2026

Verified and updated: November 11, 2026, at 1:14 PM UTC.

Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis are two of Sri Lanka’s most experienced international cricketers, and their partnership against Pakistan has placed them at the center of attention again. On Wednesday, November 11, 2026, former Test captain de Silva finished unbeaten on 167 and current Test captain Mendis was unbeaten on 117, carrying Sri Lanka to 404/4 at stumps on day three of the first Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan. Their unbroken fifth-wicket stand was worth 249 runs, leaving Sri Lanka just 30 runs behind Pakistan’s first-innings total of 434/9 declared. Bad light ended play early; the Test had not finished. The result is confirmed in the ICC match-center scoreboard.

The timing is significant because Mendis only replaced de Silva as Sri Lanka’s Test captain in October. The two batters are now playing alongside each other in Mendis’s first series in charge. A separate schedule update from the Pakistan Cricket Board on November 11 also confirms that the second Test has moved from Lahore to Rawalpindi, while retaining its November 17–21 dates. This guide explains their backgrounds, why their roles differ and what to watch next.

Destaques

• At the close of day three on November 11 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan (PKT, UTC+05:00), Dhananjaya de Silva was 167 not out and Kusal Mendis 117 not out.
• The pair added an unbeaten 249 for the fifth wicket as Sri Lanka reached 404/4, trailing Pakistan’s 434/9 declared by 30 runs.
• Mendis became Sri Lanka’s Test captain in October 2026 after de Silva stepped down; both remain important members of the batting lineup.
• The PCB has moved the November 17–21 second Test from Lahore to Rawalpindi; the reason was not specified in the verified notice.

What happened in the Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka Test on November 11, 2026?

The first Test began on November 9 and was scheduled through November 13 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Pakistan declared at 434/9 in its first innings. Sri Lanka then stumbled to 65/3 before de Silva and Kamindu Mendis steadied the innings. Kamindu eventually made 58, bringing Kusal Mendis to the crease at 155/4. From there, the former captain and his successor added 249 without another wicket falling. At stumps on day three, de Silva had faced 241 deliveries and struck 20 fours, while Kusal Mendis had faced 188 balls, hitting 10 fours and four sixes.

The numbers illustrate both resilience and scoring range. De Silva helped absorb pressure after early wickets, while Mendis offered a more attacking threat as the partnership grew. There is no confirmed match winner yet: the innings was still in progress when bad light stopped play. The ICC World Test Championship match center provides the official match context, while AFP day-three match coverage documented the earlier phase of the comeback.

Who is Dhananjaya de Silva?

Dhananjaya de Silva is a Sri Lankan right-handed batting all-rounder who also bowls right-arm off-spin. He has represented his country internationally since 2015 and is especially valued for his middle-order Test batting, adaptability and additional spin-bowling option. Unlike a specialist bowler who comes in primarily to take wickets, he can contribute substantial innings with the bat and then offer useful overs when the conditions suit his bowling.

De Silva became Sri Lanka’s Test captain in January 2024 and stepped down from that position in October 2026. Leaving the captaincy did not mean leaving the national team: he was named in the Pakistan Test squad and made this major contribution as a senior player under the new leader. His experience gives Sri Lanka a source of continuity even as formal leadership has changed. See his Dhananjaya de Silva ICC player profile for role and career background.

For readers unfamiliar with cricket, “all-rounder” means a player selected for meaningful contributions in both batting and bowling. In de Silva’s case, his right-handed batting is central to his value, with off-spin providing a second skill. A lengthy innings such as 167 not out is particularly consequential in Test cricket because protecting wickets and batting for time can reshape a five-day contest.

Who is Kusal Mendis, Sri Lanka’s new Test captain?

Kusal Mendis is a right-handed wicketkeeper-batter and one of Sri Lanka’s prominent senior batters across formats. He made his Test debut in 2015 and has also represented the country in one-day internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 internationals (T20Is). His batting often combines conventional stroke-making with the ability to score quickly when bowlers offer attacking opportunities. The Kusal Mendis ICC player profile identifies his role and international career.

On October 8, 2026, Sri Lanka Cricket appointed Mendis Test captain following de Silva’s decision to relinquish the job. At the time of that announcement, the ICC said Mendis had played 75 Tests and scored 4,836 Test runs, including 10 centuries. These are appointment-date figures, not an attempt to present live career totals after the Rawalpindi innings. See the Sri Lanka Cricket captaincy announcement and ICC announcement of Kusal Mendis as captain.

Captaincy brings another responsibility beyond scoring runs. A Test captain makes tactical decisions about field placements, bowlers, declarations and, depending on the situation, how to manage pressure throughout a long match. Mendis’s century in Rawalpindi matters both as an innings in its own right and as an early contribution during his first Test series in the role.

How are Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis different?

The pair share experience and the ability to make large scores, but they do not perform identical jobs. De Silva gives the team extra balance as a part-time spin option. Mendis brings batting and wicketkeeping capabilities, plus the responsibility of captaining the Test side. In the Rawalpindi match, both were principally important because of their batting partnership.

Is Kusal Mendis the same player as Kamindu Mendis?

No. Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis are different Sri Lankan international cricketers. Both appear in the current Test team, which makes the shared surname easy to confuse. Kamindu was the batter who made 58 on day three before his dismissal at 155/4. Kusal then joined de Silva and reached his own unbeaten century. The ICC updated Pakistan Test squad names both players separately.

Why does their partnership matter for Sri Lanka’s Test outlook?

Test cricket rewards partnerships that last: every over spent batting reduces the opposition’s opportunity to dismiss the side, while each run changes the balance of the innings. Sri Lanka’s recovery from 155/4 to 404/4 forced Pakistan to wait for a fifth wicket. Still, 30 runs of first-innings deficit remained at the day-three close, and neither an outright Sri Lankan victory nor a draw could be assumed at that point.

The series forms part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–2027 cycle. What happens next depends on whether Sri Lanka builds a lead, how quickly Pakistan can remove the two set batters and how much time remains in the match. That is an outlook, not a reported result. For supporters in Australia following the story, scores should be checked against the match date and venue rather than treated as live after the close of play.

When and where is the next Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka Test?

The first Test is scheduled for November 9–13, 2026, at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The PCB’s November 11 update says the second Test, originally announced for Lahore, will instead take place at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on November 17–21, 2026. Those dates refer to Pakistan Standard Time (PKT, UTC+05:00). The PCB did not give a reason for the venue change in the notice checked for this article; it should not be attributed to security, weather or logistics without further confirmation. The authoritative schedule correction appears in the PCB notice on the second Test venue, superseding the location shown in the ICC original Test-series schedule published in October.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the Sri Lanka Test captain in November 2026?

Kusal Mendis is the captain. He replaced Dhananjaya de Silva in October 2026 and is leading Sri Lanka’s two-Test series against Pakistan.

How many runs did Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis score against Pakistan on November 11?

At stumps on day three in Rawalpindi, de Silva was 167 not out and Mendis was 117 not out. They had shared an unbeaten fifth-wicket partnership of 249 runs.

Where will Pakistan and Sri Lanka play their second Test in 2026?

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Pakistan, November 17–21, after the Pakistan Cricket Board announced a move away from the previously listed Lahore venue.

Sources: ICC match-center scoreboard; ICC World Test Championship match center; PCB notice on the second Test venue; Sri Lanka Cricket captaincy announcement; ICC announcement of Kusal Mendis as captain; Dhananjaya de Silva ICC player profile; Kusal Mendis ICC player profile; ICC updated Pakistan Test squad; and AFP day-three match coverage.