Balapuwaduge Kusal Gimhan Mendis, generally known as Kusal Mendis is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer who plays as a top-order batter in all forms of the game.
57 Facts About Kusal Mendis
1.
2.
Kusal Mendis only played sixteen first-class matches before playing for the national side.
3.
Kusal Mendis was the leading run-scorer for Galle in the tournament, with 182 runs in six matches.
4.
Kusal Mendis scored his maiden first-class double century against Nondescripts Cricket Club.
5.
In October 2020, Kusal Mendis was drafted by the Kandy Tuskers for the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League.
6.
On 7th February 2023, in SA20 against Paarl Royals, Kusal Mendis scored 80 runs from 41 deliveries hitting 8 boundaries and four sixes.
7.
Kusal Mendis captained Sri Lanka's squad for the 2014 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
8.
Kusal Mendis was the 132nd Test player for Sri Lanka, gaining his cap during the second Test of Sobers-Tissera Trophy.
9.
Kusal Mendis made his Test debut in 2nd Test of West Indies tour of Sri Lanka 2015, scoring 13 runs in the first innings and 39 runs in second innings.
10.
Kusal Mendis was named in the Sri Lanka squad for the tour of England, and in the first Test he scored a duck in the first innings, but in the second innings he scored his maiden test half-century with 53 runs.
11.
Kusal Mendis made his One Day International debut against Ireland on 16 June 2016, scoring his maiden ODI fifty.
12.
Kusal Mendis made his Twenty20 International debut for Sri Lanka against England on 5 July 2016 in the same tour.
13.
On 28 July 2016, Kusal Mendis scored his maiden Test century during the first Test against Australia at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium.
14.
Kusal Mendis became the youngest Sri Lankan to score a century against Australia and the highest score against Australia on home soil.
15.
Kusal Mendis won the Man of the Match award for his performance.
16.
Sri Lanka won the match by single run and Kusal Mendis was adjudged man of the match for his batting.
17.
On 28 March 2017, in the second ODI against Bangladesh at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Kusal Mendis scored his maiden ODI century, with 102 runs.
18.
On 8 June 2017 against India in 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, Kusal Mendis scored a match-winning 89 runs to seal the match for Sri Lanka.
19.
On 30 June 2017 against Zimbabwe, Kusal Mendis passed 1,000 ODI runs, becoming the joint second-fastest for Sri Lanka to achieve this.
20.
Kusal Mendis's hundred came on the third day of the match, which was on his 23rd birthday.
21.
However, Kusal Mendis was dismissed for 196 runs, four runs short of his maiden double century just before the tea break.
22.
Kusal Mendis opened the innings with Danushka Gunathilaka and they added 53 for the first wicket in just 4.5 overs.
23.
Kusal Mendis adjudged man of the match, which is his first in T20Is.
24.
Kusal Mendis was totally out of form during the 2018 Asia Cup, where he was dismissed for naught in both games against Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
25.
Kusal Mendis became only the second player after Virat Kohli to achieve the feat.
26.
Kusal Mendis finished 2018 as the second-highest run-scorer in Test cricket, with 1,023 runs at an average 46.50, including three centuries and four fifties.
27.
However, in the second innings of the second test at Port Elizabeth, Kusal Mendis scored his 9th test fifty.
28.
Kusal Mendis made 80 runs off 163 deliveries in the match and had a strong partnership with eventual double centurion Angelo Mathews.
29.
On 25 February 2020, against the West Indies, Kusal Mendis scored his second ODI century.
30.
In July 2021, following the outcome of the incident, Kusal Mendis was suspended from playing in international cricket for one year.
31.
On 20 February 2022, Kusal Mendis scored a match-winning sixth T20I half century against Australia.
32.
However, on 9 July 2022, in the second Test, Kusal Mendis scored 85 runs in a partnership of 152 with Dimuth Karunaratne.
33.
On 1 September 2022, against Bangladesh Kusal Mendis scored his 7th T20I half century.
34.
Finally Sri Lanka won the match and Kusal Mendis won player of the match award for his performance.
35.
Against Bangladesh, Kusal Mendis made match-winning knock of 60 runs and Sri Lanka finally chased the target of 183 runs with one wicket.
36.
However, Kusal Mendis had four clear chances and won by luck.
37.
On 6 September 2022 against India, Kusal Mendis scored his 8th T20I half century.
38.
Kusal Mendis scored 57 runs and put strong 97 run partnership with Pathum Nissanka while chasing 173 runs.
39.
Kusal Mendis scored 79 runs in 44 balls hitting five boundaries and five sixes.
40.
Kusal Mendis won player of the match award for his performance.
41.
Kusal Mendis scored unbeaten 68 runs hitting five boundaries and three sixes.
42.
Finally Sri Lanka won the match by 9 wickets and Kusal Mendis won player of the match award.
43.
On 5th January 2023 against India, Kusal Mendis scored his 11th T20I half century.
44.
Kusal Mendis scored 52 runs hitting three boundaries and four sixes.
45.
On March 2023 Kusal Mendis scored fastest half century against New Zealand in his test career.
46.
Kusal Mendis was dissmassed for Duck in the first innings in the second match of the Test series at Wellington.
47.
On 8th April 2023, third T20I match against New Zealand Kusal Mendis scored his 12th T20I.
48.
Kusal Mendis scored 73 runs from 48 deliveries hitting six boundaries and five sixes.
49.
On 16th April 2023, first test match against Ireland, Kusal Mendis scored his 8th test century.
50.
Kusal Mendis scored 140 runs from 193 deliveries hitting 18 boundaries and one six.
51.
Kusal Mendis put 281 run partnership for second wicket with Dimuth Karunaratne.
52.
Kusal Mendis scored 245 runs from 291 deliveries hitting 18 boundaries and 11 sixes.
53.
Finally Sri Lanka won the match and the series and Kusal Mendis won player of the series award for his performance.
54.
In July 2020, Kusal Mendis was arrested after being involved in a fatal road accident in Panadura.
55.
Kusal Mendis was driving a vehicle that hit an elderly cyclist, who later died in hospital.
56.
On 12 February 2021, Kusal Mendis married his wife in Colombo.
57.
In June 2022, Kusal Mendis' wife gave birth to a baby girl.