Rex Clementine at Pallekele

Every now and then, Kusal Mendis dazzles with a blistering display, prompting the press to proclaim he’s finally turned a corner. Yet, time and again, we’ve seen those proclamations turn out to be premature – a classic case of jumping the gun. It has indeed been a letdown to witness Kusal’s vast potential remain unfulfilled. However, this time, with a newfound consistency and guidance, there’s a palpable sense that he might have reached a breakthrough.

Our optimism isn’t just wishful thinking – it’s backed by hard numbers. Kusal Mendis is Sri Lanka’s leading run-scorer in both ODIs and T20s this year. That’s a promising sign, and Sri Lankan fans can breathe a collective sigh of relief. Relief, however, may soon turn to ecstasy when people realise Kusal is, in fact, the top ODI run-scorer in the world for 2024.

Another telling detail is that the old Kusal Mendis might have thrown away his wicket after reaching the hundred. But on Wednesday at Dambulla, he took the innings deep, anchoring until the 46th over and pushing Sri Lanka’s total tantalisingly close to the 300-mark. Along the way, he notched up a career-best 143, surpassing Sanath Jayasuriya’s record for the highest score by a Sri Lankan against New Zealand, and eclipsed Shikhar Dhawan’s 132 as the highest score at Dambulla.

The real turning point, however, came at Lord’s earlier this year. No cricketer wants to miss out on playing at the Home of Cricket, and the selectors made a bold statement by dropping him. The same set of selectors had named him vice-captain for the tour and they were making a statement that runs earn you selection and not seniority.

Then, with Nishan Madushka out of sorts, an opportunity opened for Kusal in the final Test at The Oval. It was, in many ways, the last throw of the dice—a ‘sink or swim’ moment. Another failure might have spelled the end. Conditions were challenging, too; England had endured a dismal summer, and the ball was doing a fair bit in South London, backed by a formidable English attack.

Chasing a tricky target of 219, the game was hanging in the balance. While Pathum Nissanka rightly earned plaudits for his splendid century, it was Kusal who broke the shackles, counter-attacking England’s bowlers. Though he scored only 39, it came off less than run a ball, peppered with seven boundaries.

Sometimes scorecard doesn’t tell you the full story, but his assault put England’s captain Ollie Pope in a tight spot, forcing him to spread the field to stem the flow of runs. With England on the back foot, Pathum stepped up to deliver his masterpiece.

Back home, selectors took another bold decision—Dinesh Chandimal was relieved of the gloves and was told to focus on his new number three role, while Kusal was handed the wicketkeeping duties and retained at number seven. He seized the opportunity, scoring a century against New Zealand and firmly cementing his place in the lineup.

Since then, Kusal hasn’t looked back. His form has been nothing short of sensational, and he’s played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s successes this year.

The spark was always there. From his Under-19 days, he made batting look effortless and was awarded a Test cap with only a few First-Class matches under his belt. He burst onto the scene with a jaw-dropping 176 against Australia, sealing an improbable 3-0 sweep over the then-world’s top-ranked team. That innings wasn’t just his maiden Test century; it also broke Aravinda de Silva’s record for the highest score by a Sri Lankan against Australia. We were seeing something truly special.

Although much was expected of Kusal, he didn’t always deliver, and off-field controversies, including suspensions, marred his early career. Perhaps what he lacked was guidance. With the arrival of Sanath Jayasuriya, that gap seems to have been bridged. Some may still have lingering doubts, but he deserves wholehearted support—after all, there’s no saint without a past, and no sinner without a future. As Shakespeare wrote, ‘What’s past is prologue’ meaning past events are only a preparation for greatness. Kusal’s best days are ahead.