Team first for selfless Kamindu Mendis

by Rex Clementine

Former captain Angelo Mathews, during the second Test, was asked what set prolific run-maker Kamindu Mendis apart from his contemporaries. Mathews, known for his measured words, pointed to the 26-year-old’s maturity as his defining trait. This maturity shone brightly once again during the post-match press briefing after Sri Lanka’s dominant series win, when the topic of the declaration came under the spotlight.

Sri Lanka had stormed to a resounding victory by an innings and 154 runs with over four sessions to spare. Yet, many wondered if Kamindu should have been given the chance to reach his maiden double hundred.

Captain Dhananjaya de Silva, however, was unwavering in his stance. He insisted that the declaration was the right call, noting that milestones are mere footnotes when team victories are at stake. Even Kamindu, far from holding a grudge, stood by his captain’s decision with no axe to grind.

When Kamindu took the mic, his words reflected the wisdom of a seasoned campaigner, one who sees the bigger picture rather than getting bogged down by personal accolades.

“We had piled on the runs in the first innings. By lunch, I was sitting pretty on 139, but the plan was to bat briefly after lunch and declare,” Kamindu explained. “I think it was the right call. We all know Galle can be a minefield in the final hours of a game.”

He added, “The timing of the declaration was crucial. We managed to grab two crucial wickets late in the evening and then bowled them out for a paltry 88 the next morning. Sometimes, you’ve got to sacrifice the personal milestones for the greater good. That’s just part of the game.”

Kamindu went on to share some insights about the game. “After lunch is the best time to bat in Galle. The fielding side tends to wilt a little in the afternoon heat. But in Test cricket, you can’t afford to drop your guard for even a single session. You’ve got to be firing on all cylinders at all times, although yes, batting in the afternoon does give you a slight edge,” he said with a knowing smile.

Kamindu, clearly, has hit a rich vein of form. He was the leading run-scorer during the Bangladesh tour, the top run-getter in England, and again dominated against the Kiwis. Over the course of just three innings, he compiled a mammoth 319 runs, guiding Sri Lanka to their first Test series win against New Zealand in 15 yeears.

In doing so, Kamindu also crossed the 1000 Test run mark in just 13 innings, smashing records along the way. He is now the fastest Sri Lankan to reach the milestone, and the quickest Asian to do so, overtaking Roy Dias, who took 23 innings to reach the same mark in 1985, long before Kamindu was even born. He even outpaced India’s Vinod Kambli, who got there in 14 innings in 1993.

Kamindu now finds himself in esteemed company, tied with none other than Sir Don Bradman as the joint third-fastest to 1000 Test runs. With such accolades under his belt, the weight of expectations is bound to grow. Yet Kamindu, ever the calm and collected figure, is ready to face it head-on.

“The expectations of others are beyond my control,” he said, shrugging off the pressure like water off a duck’s back. “All I can do is stick to my routine, and I’m confident the runs will come.”