In a country where schoolboy cricket is a religion and teenage prodigies are thrust into the limelight before they’ve even sprouted a stubble, Sri Lanka’s conveyor belt of talent has never run dry. From Anura Tennekoon to Arjuna Ranatunga and more recently Mahela Jayawardene, the island has always had a knack for spotting its next big thing before the ink dried on their GCE O/Level results.

Kusal Mendis, cut from that same cloth, was earmarked for greatness long before he left the gates of Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa. Elegant against pace, wristy against spin and composed on treacherous wickets, Mendis had all the hallmarks of a future batting colossus.

Such was the faith in his ability that he was fast-tracked into the Test side with barely a handful of First-Class appearances to his name. The move paid rich dividends when, in 2016, Mendis played a starring role in Sri Lanka’s historic 3-0 whitewash of Australia — a feat that still raises eyebrows for this was against Starc and Hazelwood.

But as is often the case in Sri Lankan cricket, the brightest stars sometimes burn out the quickest. What followed was a rollercoaster ride — moments of brilliance drowned in an ocean of inconsistency.

There were glimmers — like the blinder in Port Elizabeth that laid the groundwork for Sri Lanka’s Test series win on South African soil — but they were too few and far between. Twice he was dismissed in the 190s, both times caught on the fence attempting to clear it for a six like Aravinda de Silva. The flair was evident, but so too was the impetuosity.

Off the field, Mendis did himself no favours either. A disciplinary breach saw him cop a one-year ban, later reduced on appeal. But public sentiment had turned. The boy wonder had become a lightning rod for criticism and many felt his time was up.

To their credit, the selectors held their nerve. Where others had been shown the door, Mendis was given the long rope. Six centuries after 146 ODIs would have been curtains for most. But there was always the sense that Mendis was a rare gem — flawed, yes, but one that could yet be polished.

Since 2024, the tide has turned.

Much of the credit for Sri Lanka’s historic Test win in England last year went to Pathum Nissanka, but the real graft — seeing off the new ball under cloudy skies — was done by Mendis. It was a knock that didn’t catch headlines but laid the foundation.

Back home, a new role awaited him. The selectors handed him the gloves in Tests and a floating role in the batting order across formats. Far from buckling under the dual burden, Mendis has flourished.

His 84 at the SSC a fortnight ago, batting with the tail, was a clinic in composure before a freak run-out cut him short. Then came the blitz at RPS — a 20-ball half-century, the fastest at the ground — only for him to throw it away, triggering a collapse that allowed Bangladesh to level the series.

But at Pallekele, with the series on the line, Mendis delivered a masterclass. His hundred not only anchored the innings but also set up a memorable win, reminding everyone why he was once touted as the heir to Kumar Sangakkara’s batting throne

Then in the first T-20I, alongside Nissanka, he bludgeoned 50 off just 19 balls, setting the tone for a record Power Play — 83 runs in six overs, Sri Lanka’s highest ever in the format.

Across formats, in the space of a fortnight, Mendis has come up with match-winning performances — a purple patch that has propelled him into the ICC’s top ten ODI batters.For nearly a decade, Kusal Mendis was the poster boy of unfulfilled promise. If the first ten years were a tease, the next five could well be the payoff Sri Lanka waited far too long for.

Rex Clementine in Dambulla ✍️