Colombo, Sri Lanka, 25 August (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Sri Lanka batter Kamindu Mendis has passed 1,500 runs in Test cricket after reaching the landmark during the second Test against India in Colombo, adding another significant milestone to his rapidly developing international career.
Mendis entered Sri Lanka’s first innings needing 31 runs to reach 1,500. He scored 32 from 58 deliveries, including three fours and a six, taking his career total to 1,501 runs before Prasidh Krishna dismissed him.
Mendis reaches landmark in his 18th Test
The left-hander reached the milestone in his 18th Test and 31st innings. His 1,501 Test runs have come at an average of about 53.6, underlining the consistency that has marked the early stages of his red-ball career.
Mendis has registered five Test centuries, with his highest score of 182 not out coming against New Zealand in 2024. He has also produced six half-centuries during his Test career.
His average places him in distinguished company among Sri Lankan Test batters. Among players from the country with at least 1,000 Test runs, Kumar Sangakkara, who finished his career averaging 57.40, is the other batter with an average above 50.
Sri Lanka recover after difficult start
India had earlier declared their first innings on 503 for nine, leaving Sri Lanka facing a substantial total.
The hosts slipped to 35 for three before Mendis combined with Pasindu Sooriyabandara. Their counter-attacking partnership added 87 runs and provided Sri Lanka with an important period of resistance before Krishna trapped Mendis.
The innings also took Kamindu Mendis beyond a milestone he had approached with 1,469 Test runs before the match. His previous Test against India in Galle had produced scores of 14 and two.
Rapid rise in Sri Lanka Test cricket
Mendis made his Test debut against Australia in Galle in July 2022, scoring 61 in his first innings. His career accelerated significantly during 2024, when he became a central figure in Sri Lanka’s Test batting order.
In September 2024, he reached 1,000 Test runs in just 13 innings, becoming the fastest Sri Lankan to the landmark. His performances included centuries against Bangladesh, England and New Zealand during a prolific period.
His record has also shown balance between conditions. Following his latest innings, Mendis has scored 624 Test runs at home and 877 away, with an average of 54.81 outside Sri Lanka.
Why the 1,500-run mark matters
The milestone reinforces the importance of Kamindu Mendis to Sri Lanka as the side continues developing its Test batting group.
Maintaining an average above 50 after more than 30 innings is particularly notable given Sri Lanka’s demanding recent schedule at home and overseas. His ability to score in different conditions has provided stability in the middle order.
What comes next for Mendis?
Mendis will have opportunities to build on his 1,501-run total as Sri Lanka’s Test programme continues. His immediate focus remains the ongoing contest with India, where Sri Lanka face the task of responding to India’s imposing first-innings total.
With five centuries already to his name, his progress towards further Test milestones will depend on maintaining the consistency that has characterised the opening 18 matches of his career.
