Kusal Mendis Ruled Out of LPL 2026 with Hamstring Injury

July 22: Sri Lanka white-ball captain Kusal Mendis has been ruled out of the remainder of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026 after suffering a right hamstring injury during Colombo Kaps' six-wicket victory over Kandy Royals on July 19.

According to a Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) statement, Mendis sustained the injury while attempting a run during the match at the SSC in Colombo."Mendis sustained a right hamstring injury while attempting a run during the Colombo Kaps' match against the Kandy Royals on 19 July at the SSC, Colombo. Accordingly, he will return to the National High Performance Centre to commence his rehabilitation program."

With Mendis sidelined, Kamindu Mendis will captain the Colombo Kaps for the remainder of the tournament.

Major setback for Sri Lanka

The injury is also a concern for the Sri Lanka national team ahead of their two-Test home series against India, which begins on August 15. Kusal Mendis is an integral member of Sri Lanka's squad across formats and was expected to take on wicketkeeping duties during the series.

Sri Lanka Cricket has not yet provided a timeline for his recovery, leaving his availability for the India series uncertain.

Injury interrupts excellent form

The setback comes while Mendis was enjoying one of the best runs of his career.

• Scored 79 off 53 balls in Colombo Kaps' opening LPL match against Galle Gallants.
• Finished the 2026 PSL with 550 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 168.19.
• Since the start of 2026, has amassed 408 T20I runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 130.35.
• In ODIs, has scored 211 runs in four innings this year at an average of 70.33.

His absence is a significant blow for both Colombo Kaps' title hopes and Sri Lanka's preparations for a crucial Test series against India.

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