One of those abundant batsman-keeper combos, Kusal Mendis is a promising prospect for Sri Lanka in the post Sangakkara-Jayawardene era. He shot to prominence with his Schoolboy of the Year award in 2013 and in the following season, the national selectors awarded the captaincy of the under-19s for the 2014 World Cup. His Test cap followed soon after in the home series against the West Indies.
He stamped his presence in the international scene with a stunning century against Australia at Pallekele making him the youngest to do so. It was a single handed knock to rescue Sri Lanka from the doldrums after having conceded a first-innings lead to get them back into the contest and eventually pave the way towards a clean sweep.