Kusal Mendis Ruled Out of LPL 2026 with Hamstring Injury, India Test Series in Doubt

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

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed the setback in an official statement, revealing that Mendis suffered the injury while attempting a run during the match. The wicketkeeper-batter will now report to the National High Performance Centre to begin his rehabilitation program.

The injury is a significant setback for both Colombo Kaps, who were being led by Mendis, and the Sri Lanka national team ahead of their highly anticipated two-Test home series against India, scheduled to begin on August 15. While SLC has not provided a timeline for his recovery, his availability for the series remains uncertain.

Mendis has been one of Sri Lanka's most consistent performers across formats in 2026. Before his injury, he had begun the LPL season in impressive fashion, scoring a fluent 79 off 53 deliveries in Colombo Kaps' opening match against Galle Gallants.

His outstanding form has extended beyond the LPL. During the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL), Mendis amassed 550 runs in 11 innings at a remarkable strike rate of 168.19, establishing himself as one of the tournament's standout batters.

At the international level, Mendis has continued to deliver for Sri Lanka. Since the start of 2026, he has accumulated 408 runs in 14 T20I innings at a strike rate of 130.35. In One-Day Internationals, he has scored 211 runs in four innings at an impressive average of 70.33, further underlining his importance to the national side.

With the crucial Test series against India just weeks away, Sri Lanka will be closely monitoring Mendis' recovery, hoping their in-form wicketkeeper-batter can return to full fitness in time for the marquee home assignment.