Kusal Mendis Biography: Balapuwaduge Kusal Gimhan Mendis popularly known as Kusal Mendis was born in Moratuwa on 2 February 1995. Kusal Mendis is a Sri-Lankan right hand batter who has been a part of Sri Lankan team in all the formats of cricket from past 5-6 years. Kusal Mendis plays in the top order and also an effective leg spin option for the team. Since his debut in International Cricket, Kusal Mendis is always seen as the future of Sri Lankan cricket. Mendis has seen a lot of ups and downs in his career. Kusal Mendis has been in and out of the team many times as well. However, every time he made a comeback more strongly and has been a backbone of Sri-Lankan batting lineup from past many years now since his debut. In domestic circuit of Sri-Lanka, Kusal Mendis plays for the Colombo Cricket Club.
Kusal Mendis Early Life and Education
Kusal Mendis started off playing cricket at the early age of just 5 years. Mendis played many matches for his school team and helped them won many tournaments. At the age of just 18 years, Kusal Mendis was named as the Schoolboy cricketer of the year back in 2013. He attended Prince of Wales College in Moratuwa and also captained the college as well as national youth team. In his early days, Kusal Mendis was known for converting his starts to big totals and rattling the opposition.
Kusal Mendis International Debut
Kusal Mendis ODI Debut: 16 June 2016 against Ireland
Kusal Mendis Test Debut: 22 October 2015 against West Indies
Kusal Mendis T20I Debut: 5 July 2016 against England
Kusal Mendis Career
Kusal Mendis Domestic Career
Kusal Mendis started off his domestic career back in 2014 when he was picked by the Colombo cricket club. In the same year, Kusal Mendis was also picked in the Sri Lankan Under-19 squad for the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup and also captained his team in the tournament.
In 2018, he was picked in the squad of Dambulla for a domestic tournament. Kusal Mendis played in the Super Four Provincial Tournament and then in Super Provincial One-day tournament and ended up as the highest run-scorer for the side.
In SLC T20 League in 2018, Kusal Mendis was roped in the squad of Galle and again ended up as the leading run scorer for his team. Kusal Mendis smashed 182 runs in 6 matches.
Kusal Mendis smashed his maiden double century in first-class cricket back in 2019 in a match against Nondescripts Cricket Club and helped his team in winning the match. During the season, Kusal Mendis smashed 3 centuries and 1 double century.
Kusal Mendis was roped in by Galle Gladiators for Lanka Premier League in 2021 and was retained by the franchise for the next season in 2022.
Kusal Mendis International Career
Kusal Mendis made his International debut on 22 October 2015 in a Test match against West Indies. His debut didn’t go down well and he scored 13 and 39 runs in the match.
Kusal Mendis scored his maiden Test half-century in the 3rd match of his career in a match against England in December 2015.
Kusal Mendis made his ODI debut in a match against Ireland in June 2016 and scored a half-century.
Few days later, he made his T20I debut in a match against England.
Kusal Mendis was included in the squad of Sri Lanka for the series against Australia and he smashed his maiden test century in the first match and helped his team in winning the match.
In 2017, Kusal Mendis was roped into the squad for the tri-series against West Indies and Zimbabwe. Kusal Mendis scored 4 half centuries in the tournament and helped his team in winning the series. Kusal Mendis was also awarded Player of the series award for his performance in the tri-series.
In 2017, Kusal Mendis smashed his maiden ODI hundred against Bangladesh and became second fastest Sri Lankan player to score 1000 ODI runs.
In 2017 and beginning of 2018, Kusal Mendis gave some average performances in all formats and ever warmed on the bench for a few series. However, he made a remarkable comeback and 1000 test runs in 2018. Kusal Mendis ended the season as the 2nd highest scorer in the world after Virat Kohli.
In the series against Australia in 2022, Kusal Mendis scored half-century in the 2nd test of the series and helped his team in ending the match at the draw.
Kusal Mendis Stats
In Tests, Kusal Mendis has played 54 matches and scored 3402 runs including 7 centuries and 15 half centuries with the highest score of 196 runs in an innings.
In ODIs, Kusal Mendis has played 87 matches and scored 2546 runs including 2 centuries and 19 half centuries with the highest score of 119 runs in a match.
In T20Is, Kusal Mendis has played 35 matches and scored 681 runs including 6 half centuries with the highest score of 79 runs in a match.
Kusal Mendis Family
Kusal Mendis married his girlfriend on 12 February 2021 in Colombo and the couple was blessed with a daughter in June 2022.
Personal Information
Kusal Mendis Full Name: Balapuwaduge Kusal Gimhan Mendis
Kusal Mendis Nick Name: Mendis
Kusal Mendis Date of Birth: 2 February 1995
Kusal Mendis Height: 173 cm
Kusal Mendis Religion: Christianity
Kusal Mendis Birth Place: Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
Kusal Mendis School: Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa
Kusal Mendis Batting Style: Right-hand bat
Kusal Mendis Jersey Number: 2
Kusal Mendis Age: 27
Kusal Mendis Hobbies: Travelling
FAQs
1. When Kusal Mendis made his International debut for Sri Lanka?
Kusal Mendis made his International debut on 22 October 2015 in a Test match against West Indies. His debut didn’t go down well and he scored 13 and 39 runs in the match.
2. How many runs Kusal Mendis has scored in Tests?
In Tests, Kusal Mendis has played 54 matches and scored 3402 runs including 7 centuries and 15 half centuries with the highest score of 196 runs in an innings.
3. When Kusal Mendis won Schoolboy cricketer of the year award?
At the age of just 18 years, Kusal Mendis was named as the Schoolboy cricketer of the year back in 2013.
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