From PSL snub to T20I trailblazer: Kusal Mendis is scripting his own story

Cricket can be funny sometimes. One day you’re going unsold at a franchise draft, the next you’re rewriting your country’s record books.

Just hours after reports surfaced that Kusal Mendis went unsold in the PSL 11 draft, the Sri Lankan star reminded everyone exactly who he is, by becoming the first Sri Lankan batter to cross 2,500 runs in T20I cricket.

And he did it in style.

A LANDMARK MOMENT IN PALLEKELE

During Match 16 of the 2025 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup against Oman at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Mendis nudged his 19th run of the innings – a seemingly routine moment that turned historic. With that shot, he entered the 2,500-run club in T20Is, becoming the first Sri Lankan ever to do so.

The milestone came in his 102nd T20I appearance – a testament to both his longevity and consistency in the shortest format.

Across 102 innings, Mendis now boasts:

• 2,500+ T20I runs
• An average of 26+
• A strike rate north of 130

In a format that demands both speed and stability, Mendis has offered Sri Lanka a bit of everything over the years.

STANDING TALL IN SRI LANKAN CRICKET HISTORY

While Sri Lanka has produced legendary white-ball batters, none had touched the 2,500-run mark in T20Is before Mendis.

Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera are the only other Sri Lankans to have crossed 2,000 runs – but Mendis now stands alone at the summit.

And he’s not done yet.

FRANCHISE TWIST: FROM IPL MOVE TO PSL SNUB

Interestingly, this milestone comes amid an intriguing franchise narrative.

Last year, Mendis reportedly opted out of the PSL in favor of IPL commitments – a move that signaled his growing global stock. Fast forward to this week, and he found himself unsold in the PSL 11 draft.

But if cricket has taught us anything, it’s this: form speaks louder than auction tables.

Franchise leagues can be unpredictable. Player dynamics, team combinations, budgets – they all play a role. But international records? Those are carved in stone. And Mendis just etched his name into Sri Lanka’s cricketing history.

STATEMENT MADE

There’s something poetic about reaching a career milestone just as doubts begin to swirl. Whether intentional or not, Mendis’ record-breaking knock felt like a statement.

With the T20 World Cup underway and Sri Lanka eyeing a deep run, Mendis’ experience and aggressive top-order presence could prove vital. Unsold in a draft. Unstoppable on the field.

For Kusal Mendis, the story is far from over.