Kamindu Mendis | ICC MT20WC | Sri Lanka post-match press conference | 8 February ’26 | ICC
- [Reporter]
Kamindu, we saw that our top order struggled a bit to bat, how did you adjust yourself to the wicket, for your inning?
- [Kamindu Mendis]
Yeah, I think we thought that it will be a good wicket, but it was not an easy wicket to bat. I think before everything number 3 and 4 got a good start for us. Gave a good contribution. Kusal Mendis played well. So, I think his inning was very important for us to get this total to the board.
- [Reporter]
Kamindu, you joined the Sri Lanka team at the last moment. Noone thought that will happen this way. Today, you have showed your skills again. What do you think about joining the team at the last moment, and your inning in this match?
- [Kamindu Mendis]
Yes, for the first question, it’s is something that’s not in my control. My job is to play for the country and get victory to the country when I get a chance to do so. So, I think I got that chance, I did my best , if we take the today’s win, it’s a good win. We got a good start in this tournament for our team. I think all the players did well, every player had a good contribution as a team. I must mention, in bowling, Maheesh, Wanindu, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Wellalage did a great job in bowling. So, I think as a team, we will be doing well in the next matches as well.
- [Reporter]
Kamindu, after Pawan got out, they sent Dunith for that. What was the plan at that time? They should have sent you to, if they wanted to send a left hander, what was the team’s idea at that time.
- Kamindu Mendis
I think we already had a plan to send Dunith, when we started the match, it was Dunith to be sent play as number 05. So, it went as planned. I think that could be a good thing, I think Dunith handled the pressure there well. So, it was easier for me to catch it up. I think as all should back the decision we make during a match as a team. So, I think if we move forward as a team, those things have to be done in that way. So, we had a good start as a good team. So, I think to continue this as the same way.
- [Reporter]
Kamindu, in England tournament and the previous tournaments, the consistence factor was not really there in the T20 team. However, by winning the Ireland match the team had a chance to get a good start to the World Cup match. As the tournament t is getting played in the own country, how are you planning to take the home advantage and what’s the plan to move forward as a team ? What’s the plan inside that you have inside the team to move forward with a winning mindset by forgetting the things that happened in the recent past?
- [Kamindu Mendis]
Yes, I think that we always say in cricket, that we have to set aside the previous matches, no matter if we won or lost. We have to do the things that we have to do at this moment. We have to back it up 100%. That’s true we lost the England series when we were coming to this tournament. But we recovered from that very soon. The coaches and the players, all recovered and we spent last few days and came to this tournament with a good plan. So, I think our preparation is good, and we have our home advantage. These are the grounds that we play more often. So, I think with that advantage, we can give a good competition in this tournament.
- [Reporter]
Kamindu, in the beginning, there was a huge pressure facing the Ireland bowlers, how did you plan your partnership with Kusal?
- [Kamindu Mendis]
Yeah, actually, initially we thought the pitch would be a good one, with a score of 170-plus. But when the openers played, when the top order played, we saw how the pitch behaved. So, I think it was not that easy for them to get runs, especially against the spin bowlers. So, I think when I went out to bat, the plan was to build a good partnership with Kusal Mendis and keep the momentum, maintain the intent, and collect as many runs as possible for the board. I think we did that together. Kusal played a good inning.
- [Reporter]
Kamindu, during last three months, you didn’t have much chances to play in the team. Mostly you play one and staying out from the team. So, during the England tour also, you weren’t in the squad, you came in the last moment. So, with all that, how did you keep yourself motivated, because you were in a place where, when you got a chance, you had to perform well?
- [Kamindu Mendis]
So, I have been in similar situations a lot in my history. So, I think, I have taken that as a great experience. When I started representing my country in the very beginning also, I had chances like that. So, I use that experience. Because it’s not my job to select into the team or keeping out from the team. What I hope to do is playing my best for my country. So, I think I focused on my team during the past few days, other than thinking about the things that I can’t control. So, I think I did my best possible work for my team and I wish to continue that for my team whenever it’s required.
- [Reporter:]
Who will you give the credit to the todays win? And what is your strategy for the next matches?
- [Kamindu Mendis:]
I think first of all we should give the credit to our batsmen as well. Kusal played really well. It’s a really good inning. And when it comes to bowling, everyone contributed with the ball. I think Maheesh did really well. Even Vanindu with a small niggle. He bowled really well. Keep our team up. I think as a team we did really well today. And credit goes to the Ireland team as well. They actually played really well. They played really good cricket as well.
- [Reporter:]
These conditions are a bit challenging for the batsman, but Sri Lanka seemed to get the spinners, you guys have been bowling well over here. So do you think youll have an edge over other teams over here, because scoring runs, especially the power hitters will struggle for timing to hit straight on these type of pitches?
- [Kamindu Mendis:]
Actually, not only in Sri Lanka. We played even worse wickets overseas. I think it’s challenging. We thought it would be a good wicket, but when we were batting, we realized that it would be a challenging wicket. So I think with home advantage, we used to play these wickets. Sometimes it will be good. Sometimes it will help for spinners as well. I think it’s all about situation handling. I think as a team, whatever the wickets we get, we should give our best.