Early and Domestic Career

Mendis was named Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2013 and captained the national youth team and Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa in his formative years.

In March 2018, Mendis was named to Dambulla's squad for the 2017–18 Super Four Provincial Tournament. The following month, he was also named in Dambulla's squad for the 2018 Super Provincial One Day Tournament.

In August 1998, Mendis was named in Galle's 2018 SLC T20 League squad. He was the leading run-scorer for Galle in the tournament with 182 runs in six games. In March 2019, he was named in Galle's squad for the 2019 Super Provincial One Day Tournament.

During the 2019–20 Premier League tournament, Mendis scored 139 against Ragama Cricket Club and the match was won by an innings and 125 runs. Mendis scored his first first-class double century against Nondescripts Cricket Club. His unbeaten double century contributed to the game being tied. In the last match against Chilaw Marians Cricket Club, Mendis scored another century with 157 runs.

In October 2020, Mendis was drafted by the Kandy Tuskers for the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League. In November 2021, he was selected to play for the Galle Gladiators following the 2021 Lanka Premier League player draft. In July 2022, he was signed by Galle Gladiators for the third edition of the Lanka Premier League.

On 7 February 2023, in SA20 against Paarl Royals, Mendis scored 80 runs from 41 deliveries, hitting 8 boundaries and four sixes. Due to his batting, Pretoria Capitals won the match by 59 runs and Mendis was named player of the match.

International Career
Debut Years

Mendis captained Sri Lanka's squad for the 2014 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. He was the 132nd Test player for Sri Lanka and received his cap in the second Test of the Sobers-Tissera Trophy. He made his Test debut in the 2nd Test of the West Indies' tour of Sri Lanka in 2015, scoring 13 runs in the first innings and 39 runs in the second innings.

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 53 runs, his first Test half-century.

Mendis made his One Day International (ODI) debut against Ireland on June 16, 2016, scoring his first ODI fifty. Mendis made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut for Sri Lanka against England on 5 July 2016 on the same tour.

Set an example at the International Level

On 28 July 2016, Mendis scored his first Test century in the first Test against Australia at Pallekele Cricket Stadium. He became the youngest Sri Lankan to score a century against Australia and also the highest scorer against Australia on home soil. Sri Lanka won the game by 106 runs, which was only their second Test win against Australia. Mendis won the Man of the Match award for his performance.

In the fifth match of the Tri-Series in Zimbabwe against the West Indies, Mendis scored 94 runs. Niroshan Dickwella's fifty and 94 runs saw Sri Lanka score 330 runs from 50 overs, which was Sri Lanka's highest total against the West Indies. Sri Lanka won the match by a single run and Mendis was named man of the match for his batting performance. With this win, Sri Lanka reached the final against Zimbabwe. In the final, Mendis scored another fifty and led the team to win the series by six wickets. His all-round performances in the series earned him the first player of the series award.

In the first Test against Bangladesh in Galle, Mendis scored his second Test century, missing just six runs for his double hundred. His score was 194 before he was caught by Tamim Iqbal. On 28 March 2017, Mendis scored his maiden ODI century with 102 runs in the second ODI against Bangladesh at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. However, due to heavy rain, the game ended without a result.

On 8 June 2017 against India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, Mendis scored a match-winning 89 runs to seal the game for Sri Lanka.

In the match, Sri Lanka chased down 321 runs scored by India, recording the highest successful run chase in the history of the Champion's Trophy. He along with Danushka Gunathilaka reached the 159-run stand for the second wicket and helped reach the mark. This was Sri Lanka's highest joint chase and also their first successful chase over 300 m since the 2015 World Cup. On 30 June 2017 against Zimbabwe, Mendis passed 1,000 ODI runs, becoming the second fastest (with Tharanga) for Sri Lanka to achieve this .

In the first Test against Bangladesh in 2018, Mendis scored his fourth Test hundred. He received his hundred on matchday three, on his 23rd birthday. Mendis put together a 308-run partnership with Dhananjaya de Silva for the second wicket until De Silva was dismissed for 173 runs. However, Mendis was dismissed for 196 runs, four runs short of his first double century just before the tea break. However, Mendis' career-best score of 196 made him the second Sri Lankan after Kumar Sangakkara to be bowled out in 190s at least twice.

After good performances in Tests against Bangladesh, Mendis was named in the T20I squad for Sri Lanka as a replacement for the injured Kusal Perera. In the first game, he scored a match-winning knock of 53 off 27 balls. Bangladesh scored 193 in their 20 overs, which was their highest T20I total at the time. Mendis opened the innings with Danushka Gunathilaka and they added 53 for the first wicket in just 4.5 overs. Then Mendis scored his first T20I fifty and Sri Lanka won the match by 6 wickets. The chase of 193 is also recorded as Sri Lanka's highest T20I chase. Mendis was named man of the match, which was his first in T20Is. In the second T20I, Mendis scored another match-winning half-century and Sri Lanka scored 210 in their 20 overs. This is Sri Lanka's highest T20I score against Bangladesh. Ultimately, Sri Lanka won the game and the series 2-0 and Mendis was named both man of the match and player of the series.

In May 2018, he was one of 33 cricketers awarded a national contract by Sri Lanka Cricket ahead of the 2018–19 season.

Ups and Downs

Mendis was completely out of form during the 2018 Asian Cup, where he was unsuccessfully sent off in both games against Bangladesh and Afghanistan. His place in the team was in doubt due to poor performances, which is why he did not take part in England's tour of Sri Lanka. But during the ODI series, Mendis was named in the squad for the remainder of the series against England, as a replacement for Kusal Perera, who suffered a quadriceps strain in the second ODI. In his comeback match he was sent off again for no reason. In the fourth ODI he struggled in the middle order scoring just 5 runs and England won the series 3-0. In the last game, Mendis fought in the number 4 position. After 24 innings without a fifty, he scored a 30-ball half-century with six huge sixes in the match. Sri Lanka won the match by 219 runs using D/L.

In the first Test against New Zealand at the end of 2018, Mendis scored his sixth Test century. Mendis, along with Angelo Mathews, batted throughout the fourth day, marking the fifth time in the history of the Test that the Sri Lankan pair had done so. On the fifth day they put together an unbeaten double-century partnership that included a total of 115 wicketless overs for the New Zealanders. Because the rain interrupted, the game ended in a draw. The partnership of 246 was also Sri Lanka's highest for any wicket against New Zealand and also Sri Lanka's highest in the second innings of a Test. It was the first time a Sri Lankan pair added more than 200 runs in the second innings of a Test outside Asia.

In the second Test, Mendis reached 1,000 Test runs in the 2018 calendar year, making him only the second player after Virat Kohli to achieve this feat.

He ended 2018 as the second highest run-scorer in Test cricket with 1,023 runs at an average of 46.50, including three centuries and four fifties.

During the two-match Test series against South Africa, Mendis continued his poor batting form with scores of 0, 12 and 16. However, his fielding attempts at slip improved in each inning. However, in the second innings of the second Test in Port Elizabeth, Mendis scored his 9th Test fifty. Along with new recruit Oshada Fernando, he created an unbeaten partnership of 163 runs off 213 balls and won the match by 8 wickets. Ultimately, Sri Lanka won the series 2-0 and Mendis was named man of the match. It was the first Test series that Sri Lanka won in South Africa.

In April 2019, he was named in Sri Lanka's squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup. On September 1, 2019, in the first T20I against New Zealand, he scored a quick 79 runs off 53 balls, setting a target of 174. However, Sri Lanka lost the game. In the final over of the second T20I, there was a collision with Shehan Jayasuriya on the boundary line. Jayasuriya ran long-on and Mendis ran from mid-wicket to intercept an aerial blast from Mitchell Santner.

He tripped over the onrushing Mendis and sent him crashing into the boundary. Both players suffered knee injuries and were sidelined from the third T20I.

In the first Test against Zimbabwe on January 19, 2020, Mendis scored his eleventh fifty. He managed 80 runs off 163 deliveries in the match and had a strong partnership with future double centurion Angelo Mathews. Sri Lanka won the game by 10 wickets. In the second Test, Mendis scored his seventh century with an unbeaten 116 in the second innings, with Sri Lanka winning the series 1-0.

On February 25, 2020, Mendis scored his second ODI century against the West Indies. Along with Avishka Fernando, they formed a 239-run partnership for the third wicket with Sri Lanka eventually managing 345/8. The West Indies collapsed in the chase and Sri Lanka won the match by 161 runs. This was Sri Lanka's biggest win in ODIs against the West Indies, with Sri Lanka taking an unassailable lead in the series. On 28 June 2021, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) suspended Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka and Niroshan Dickwella after they breached the team's bio-secure bubble during Sri Lanka's tour of England. All three players were seen in Durham city center and SLC sent them all home ahead of the ODI matches. In July 2021, Mendis was banned from playing international cricket for a year following the outcome of the incident. Sri Lanka Cricket agreed to an early lifting of the ban and lifted the penalty in January 2022.

On 20 February 2022, Mendis scored a match-winning sixth T20I half-century against Australia. His unbeaten 69 runs helped Sri Lanka win by five wickets and he was named player of the match. On 23 May 2022, he was hospitalized after walking off the field holding his chest minutes before lunch on the first day of the second Test against Bangladesh. Doctors “suspect muscle cramps” as the reason for his symptoms, but an ECG test gave “clear results”.

In the Australian Test series in July 2022, Sri Lanka suffered a heavy defeat as the match ended after just three days. Mendis scored only 3 and 8 runs in the match. However, on 9 July 2022, Mendis scored 85 runs in a partnership of 152 with Dimuth Karunaratne in the second Test. On September 1, 2022, Kusal Mendis scored his 7th T20I against Bangladesh. He scored 60 runs while chasing 183 runs. Ultimately, Sri Lanka won the game and Kusal Mendis was named player of the match for his performance.

During the 2022 Asian Cup, Mendis played as an opener with Pathum Nissanka and they formed match-winning partnerships in the matches against Bangladesh, Afghanistan and India. Against Bangladesh, Mendis scored the winning score of 60 runs and Sri Lanka finally reached the target of 183 runs by one wicket. However, Mendis had four clear chances and won through luck. On 6 September 2022 against India, Mendis scored his 8th T20I half-century. He scored 57 runs and formed a strong 97-run partnership with Pathum Nissanka while chasing 173 runs. Finally, Sri Lanka won the game by 6 wickets.

In the first round of the 2022 T20I World Cup against Netherlands, Mendis scored the 9th T20I half. He scored 79 runs in 44 balls, hitting five boundaries and five sixes. Finally, Sri Lanka won the match by 16 runs and qualified for Super 12. Mendis was named player of the match for his performance.

In the first Super 12 match of the 2022 T20 World Cup against Ireland, Mendis scored his 10th T20I half. He also reached 1000 T20I runs during this innings. He scored an unbeaten 68 runs, hitting five boundaries and three sixes. Finally, Sri Lanka won the game by 9 wickets and Mendis was named player of the match.

On 5 January 2023 against India, Mendis scored his 11th T20I half. He scored 52 runs, hitting three boundaries and four sixes. Finally, Sri Lanka won the game by 16 runs. In March 2023, Mendis scored the fastest half-century in his Test career against New Zealand. This is the fastest half-century at Hagley Oval. Finally, Mendis scored 87 from 83 balls. Mendis was dismissed for Duck in the first innings of the second game of the Test series in Wellington. But he scored a half-century in the second innings.

On 8 April 2023, Mendis scored his twelfth T20I score in the third T20I match against the New Zealander. He scored 73 runs from 48 deliveries, hitting six boundaries and five sixes. Despite their setback, Sri Lanka loses the game.

On 16 April 2023, the first Test match against Ireland, Mendis scored his 8th Test century. He scored 140 runs from 193 deliveries, hitting 18 boundaries and a six. He also formed a 281-run partnership for the second wicket with Dimuth Karunaratne. Finally, Sri Lanka won the game by an innings and 280 runs.

During the second Test match against Ireland, Mendis scored his first Test double century. He scored 245 runs from 291 deliveries, hitting 18 boundaries and 11 sixes. He also partnered with Nishan Madushka. Ultimately, Sri Lanka won the match and the series and Mendis was named Player of the Series for his performance.

Vice Captain

Kusal Mendis was appointed as the vice-captain against the Odi series in Bangaladesh in April 2021. He was also named vice-captain for the T20 series against England. However, Kusal Mendis dropped from his position as vice-captain in September 2021 against India's home series. In December

2022, Kusal Mendis was recalled as Sri Lanka ODI vice-captain for India's 2023 tour.

Personal Life

In July 2020, Mendis was arrested after he was involved in a fatal road accident in Panadura. Mendis hit an elderly cyclist in a vehicle who later died in hospital. A day after the incident, Mendis was released on bail. On February 12, 2021, Mendis married his wife in Colombo. In June 2022, Mendis' wife gave birth to a baby girl.