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Kusal Mendis Joins Elite List With Historic Test Century as Captain: Records are frequently set and broken on the cricket field, but some achievements are etched into the pages of history forever. Sri Lanka’s newly appointed Test captain, Kusal Mendis, has accomplished such a historic feat in his debut match as captain against Pakistan. With his magnificent century, he has carved his name in golden letters both in the annals of Sri Lankan cricket and on the international stage.
Kusal Mendis Becomes First Sri Lankan Captain to Score a Century on Debut
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31-year-old Kusal Mendis, who took over the reins of the Test team from Dhananjaya de Silva last month, scored a brilliant century in his very first Test match as captain against Pakistan. He has become the first Sri Lankan batter to score a century in his maiden Test match as captain.
When Mendis arrived at the crease, Sri Lanka was in a precarious position, having lost 4 wickets for 155 runs after 42 overs. Under such intense pressure, he displayed remarkable composure and maturity. He steadied the innings and reached his century in the 92nd over by hitting a superb boundary off a delivery from Razaullah.
Record-Breaking Partnership Salvages Sri Lanka Against Pakistan
Stepping in to bat during a difficult phase, Kusal Mendis along with his batting partner forged a massive 249-run partnership for the fifth wicket. This double-century stand helped the visiting Sri Lankan side recover from their early setbacks and propelled them into a strong and secure position.
Elite List of Captains Who Scored Test Hundreds on Debut
With this achievement, Kusal Mendis has become the 37th cricketer in the world to score a century in his very first match as a Test captain. Furthermore, he is only the second player after former England captain Andrew Strauss to score a century on his debut as captain against Pakistan.
This achievement places him in an elite group of modern-day batting greats who began their captaincy tenure with a century:
- Virat Kohli (India, 2014): 115 runs
- Steve Smith (Australia, 2014): 133 runs
- Joe Root (England, 2017): 190 runs
- Shubman Gill (India, 2025): 147 runs
Also Read: Shreyas Iyer Named 29th ODI Captain: Check All 29 Indian ODI Captains List
Kusal Mendis Reaches Milestone of 13,000 International Runs
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This historic innings was not just an exceptional captain's knock; it also marked a significant milestone in the right-handed batter's career. During this innings, Kusal Mendis surpassed the 13,000-run mark in international cricket.
He has become only the eighth Sri Lankan batter to reach this milestone across all three formats of the game (Test, ODI, and T20). This exclusive list includes some of the country's greatest legends:
- Kumar Sangakkara (27,757 runs)
- Mahela Jayawardene (25,688 runs)
- Sanath Jayasuriya (20,966 runs)
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