Dhananjaya de Silva has stepped down as Sri Lanka’s Test captain with immediate effect, ending his two-and-a-half-year stint at the helm. Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed the development on Thursday, October 8, after the experienced all-rounder informed the national selection committee about his decision. De Silva took over the Test captaincy in January 2024 after Dimuth Karunaratne stepped down from the role.
While he will no longer lead the side, the 35-year-old has made it clear that he remains available for selection as a Test player and will continue contributing with both bat and ball. During his captaincy, De Silva led Sri Lanka in 18 Tests, recording seven victories, eight defeats and three draws. His win percentage stood at 38.88. Although his tenure did not produce a long list of major series victories, Sri Lanka registered some notable performances under his leadership.
Soon after taking charge, Dhananjaya de Silva guided Sri Lanka to victory in the one-off Test against Afghanistan. The team also secured a commanding 328-run win over Bangladesh in March 2024. De Silva played a starring role in that match, scoring centuries in both innings to underline his value as an all-round contributor.
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However, Dhananjaya de Silva’s decision to step down appears to be driven primarily by his desire to make way for the next generation of Sri Lankan Test leaders. Rather than waiting for a change in leadership at a later stage, he believes the transition should begin now. “It’s my genuine opinion that the mantle should go down to the next generation,” De Silva said.
🚨 BREAKING! 🚨
Dhananjaya de Silva steps down as Sri Lanka’s Test captain. 🏏
He will continue to represent Sri Lanka in Test cricket. 🇱🇰 https://t.co/Gr9E8qkfqZ
— Rehan 56 (@imrehan056) October 8, 2026
Sri Lanka Cricket thanked the all-rounder for his contribution as captain and confirmed that he would continue to be considered for national selection. “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,” SLC CEO Ashley de Silva said.
The selectors are yet to announce De Silva’s successor. His departure comes as Sri Lanka enters another important phase of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle, making the appointment of a new Test captain a key decision for the national team.
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De Silva’s final series as Sri Lanka Test captain came against India in August 2026. India won the opening Test in Galle by 165 runs after scoring 462 in the first innings and 193 in the second. Sri Lanka were dismissed for 284 and 206, with De Silva contributing a fighting 59 in the second innings before being dismissed by Manav Suthar.
The second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo ended in a draw, handing India a 1-0 series victory. De Silva scored eight and 23 in that match, which ultimately became his final Test as Sri Lanka captain. With his leadership chapter now closed, De Silva will shift his focus back to his role as a player, while Sri Lanka begin the search for their next Test captain.
