{
  "id": 9041007,
  "title": "Mendis returns after lengthy injury break",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/mendis-returns-after-lengthy-injury-break",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-22T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/mendis-returns-after-lengthy-injury-break/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kusal Mendis, Sri Lanka's former ODI captain, is set to return to lead his team in their first One Day International (ODI) against England following a lengthy injury layoff. Mendis, who regularly played across all three formats for several years, suffered a hamstring injury during the LPL, forcing him out of the home Test series against India and the T20I leg of the tour of England. Charith Asalanka temporarily took over as captain during his absence. Mendis made a successful comeback for SSC in the domestic T20 tournament, excelling in both the semi-final and final, and was subsequently flown to England to captain the ODI side.",
  "summary": "The reins of Sri Lanka’s ODI captaincy will return to Kusal Mendis as the wicketkeeper batter makes his international comeback following a lengthy injury lay off. Mendis, a regular across all three formats for much of the last decade, was forced into a rare spell on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury during the […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}