Who is Kusal Mendis? Know About His Relationships, Family, Career, Stats, and More

Balapuwaduge Kusal Gimhan Mendis, known as Kusal Mendis, has been one of the finest Sri Lankan cricketers in recent times. He has gained attention for his aggressive batting and reliable wicket-keeping. The right-handed middle-order batter has been the backbone of the Island country in modern-day of the game. He has the record for the most sixes by a Sri Lankan batter in a single Test innings, with 11 sixes. After his debut in 2016, he was named the One Day International (ODI) batsman of the year for the 2016–17 season at Sri Lanka Cricket's annual awards.

In his debut match of IPL, he got out in a most bizarre way. Kusal Mendis got out by hit wicket. Also, while doing the wicket-keeping for the Gujarat Titans in the first inning, he dropped 2-3 catches as well of Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav.

Kusal Mendis Biography

He was born on February 2, 1995, in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. Mendis has been a vital part of the national team across all formats. He has a height of approximately 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm) and weighs around 65 kg (143 lbs). Mendis possesses a compact build that demonstrates his agility on the field. Mendis attended Prince of Wales College in Moratuwa, where he showcased exceptional cricketing talent.

In July 2020, Mendis was involved in a road accident that resulted in the death of a 74-year-old cyclist. He was arrested and later released on bail. He was involved in a controversy during COVID-19 was suspended for breaching the team's bio-secure bubble during a tour in England. He later came back in the team in January 2022.

Kusal Mendis Religion & Caste

Kusal Mendis, one of Sri Lanka's prominent cricketers, follows Christianity as his religion. He belongs to the Roman Catholic group, which is a significant minority within Sri Lanka’s diverse religious landscape. Mendis comes from a Sinhalese Christian background, which is relatively less common in Sri Lanka's cricketing fraternity, which is mainly Buddhist. As for caste, it is important to note that the concept of caste is not as dominant in Sri Lanka's Sinhalese Christian community as it is in some parts of South Asia.

Kusal Mendis Family

Kusal Mendis hails from a decent and humble Sri Lankan family. The wicket-keeper batter grew up in a middle-class Christian household. His father, Dinesh Mendis, worked as an auto-rickshaw driver in Moratuwa. Kusal Mendis mother, Maheshika Shivanthi, has been an equally significant pillar of strength behind the scenes. He has one brother named Omesh Mendis, who is also a domestic cricketer in Sri Lanka, and a sister named Dilki Mendis. Kusal Mendis' family rarely appears in the public eye, choosing to live a quiet life away from social media.

Kusal Mendis Father

Kusal Mendis' father, Dinesh Mendis, has been an auto-rickshaw driver in Moratuwa. Despite financial constraints, he did not allow his modest background to limit his son's aspirations. His father’s sacrifice and belief in his talent were key in Kusal's cricketing career as he eventually made it to the national team. Dinesh Mendis has been the backbone in Kusal's life for making him a star cricketer.

Kusal Mendis Mother

Kusal Mendis' mother, Maheshika Shivanthi, has played a key role in Kusal's life. She has been pivotal, providing emotional and moral support throughout his career. While she maintains a private life away from the public eye, her influence is evident in Kusal's grounded personality and dedication to his sport. There has not been much information about his mother.

Kusal Mendis Sister

Kusal Mendis has a sister named Dilki Mendis. There has not been much information about her as she has been away from social media. She is married to Nipun Oshada De Silva.

Kusal Mendis Brother

Omesh Mendis is the younger brother of Kusal Mendis. He is also involved in cricket and currently features at the domestic level. He is yet to make his debut for the national team. Has featured in just 20 first-class matches in Sri Lanka. At just 21 years old, he will need to work hard like his elder brother and get a call-up for the Sri Lanka team.

Kusal Mendis Instagram

Kusal Mendis maintains an active presence on Instagram under the handle @kusalmendis.13. He has 217K followers on Instagram. In this social media platform, he shares glimpses into his cricketing highlights, vacations, and personal life. He also shares photos and videos from international matches, training sessions, practice moments, and funny incidents with teammates.

Kusal Mendis Twitter

Kusal Mendis is also active on Twitter, where he tweets and shares his thoughts with fans and shares updates related to his cricketing career. His Twitter handle has 118K followers. The name of his social media handle is @KusalMendis13.

Kusal Mendis Facebook

Kusal Mendis connects with his audience on Facebook through his official page, @KusalMendis. His Facebook page features a mix of content, including match highlights, training photos, and travel updates. Here he has 649K followers.

Kusal Mendis Jersey Number

Kusal Mendis has donned different jersey numbers throughout his cricketing career. However, he currently wears number 13. There's no information available indicating any specific significance or reason behind Kusal Mendis choosing the number.

Kusal Mendis Relationships

Kusal Mendis is married to Nishelle Fernando. The couple met in a church approximately a year before their marriage. There has not been much information about his previous relationships.

Kusal Mendis Wife

Kusal Mendis wife's name is Nishelle Fernando. The couple got married on February 12, 2021, in Colombo. They met in a church approximately a year before their marriage. is well-educated, holding a degree from a reputed university in Sri Lanka. Nishelle is also known for her philanthropic efforts and involvement in social work.

Kusal Mendis Net Worth & Salary

Kusal Mendis has been an integral part of the Sri Lanka national team. He has an estimated net worth of $5 million (approximately ₹26 crore INR). This mainly comes from his earnings through international cricket, participation in franchise leagues, and brand endorsements. The keeper batter holds a central contract with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). Reports indicate that he earns an annual salary of around $35,000 (approximately ₹29 lakh INR) from SLC, which contributes heavily in Kusal Mendis net worth.

Kusal Mendis Career

Kusal Mendis is one of the most naturally gifted and technically sound batsmen to emerge from the island nation in recent years. Since making his international debut in 2015, Mendis has grown into a dependable top-order batter for Sri Lanka across all formats. Mendis first gained recognition when he captained the Sri Lankan U-19 team at the 2014 ICC U-19 World Cup. His career has a mixture of early talent, inconsistent patches, and strong comebacks.

He has been one of the more fascinating prospects in Sri Lankan cricket currently. Kusal Mendis was selected for the senior team early on based on his leadership qualities and calm batting approach, examples of which he displayed at the under-19 level in tournaments where he drew the attention of selectors and made his way to the senior national team.

International Career

Kusal Mendis made his Test debut against the West Indies on October 22, 2015, at the age of just 20. His true breakout moment came in July 2016, when he scored a magnificent 176 against Australia in the first Test at Pallekele. He made his ODI debut against Ireland on June 16, 2016, and his T20I debut earlier that year on July 5 against England. In white-ball cricket, he has served as a versatile batter, adapting to different roles in the top and middle order. He has scored more than 10,000 runs across formats and has been in the list of the leading run-getters for Sri Lanka in the modern era.

Other Leagues Career

Kusal Mendis has also played in domestic and franchise leagues. He recently played for the Galle Gladiators in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) in 2025. He has often been among the top scorers in the league. In 2023, he added another feather to his cap by signing with the Pretoria Capitals for the SA20 League, further proving his T20 talent on an international stage. He was signed by Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League for INR 75 lakhs as a replacement for Jos Buttler. Let's have a look at Kusal Mendis stats in domestic T20 leagues as a batter and as a wicketkeeper.

Kusal Mendis Achievements & Awards

Kusal Mendis notable achievements include being nominated for the ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year award in 2024. He also holds records like the youngest Sri Lankan to score a century against Australia, and the highest score against Australia on home soil. He has the record for also becoming the Sri Lankan batter with the most sixes in a single Test innings, with 11.