IPL 2025: Enter Kamindu Mendis, the Sri Lankan enigma for Sunrisers

It was one of the biggest defeats for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL history at the Eden Gardens on Thursday, but their Sri Lankan import Kamindu Mendis still grabbed enough eyeballs against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders, as the 26-year-old spinning allrounder became the first ambidextrous bowler to pick up a wicket in the league's 18-year history.

Visuals from the only over that Mendis bowled have gone viral on social media, showing him first bowling left-arm orthodox to right-hander Angkrish Raghuvanshi, and immediately switching to right-arm, round-the-wicket off-spin to southpaw Venkatesh Iyer. Not only did he manage to show decent control in both, the Lankan also grabbed the wicket of Raghuvanshi soon after his half-century when he was caught in the deep.

Surprisingly enough, Sunrisers skipper Pat Cummins took Mendis off after just one over on a wicket which looked sluggish, despite the bowler being preferred in the fourth overseas player’s slot ahead of spin ace Adam Zampa, for his batting abilities.

Mendis may not quite be the ambidextrous genius like the fictional character — a magician of a spinner equally at ease using both arms in Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka’s epochal debut novel Chinaman – the legend of Pradeep Mathew — but he has been a useful weapon for the islanders since his international T20 debut in 2018. 

An ambidextrous bowler in modern cricket has been a rare commodity, very much like bowlers who could deliver both pace and spin like the great Sir Garfield Sobers or India’s very own Karsan Ghavri. Only the second ambidextrous bowler from his country after Tharindu Rathnayake, Mendis has had a dream run in Test cricket in 2024 since his debut in the longer format, named ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year after top-notch performances in all formats.

Even as the Sunrisers’ chase fell apart on Thursday evening, Mendis batted sensibly for his 27 off 20 balls, and his credentials as a batter say he could provide the X-factor in their campaign if given the opportunity. In only 12 Tests so far, he has amassed 1,184 runs with five centuries and a staggering average of 62.31. He also became the toast of world cricket when he became the joint-third fastest to reach 1,000 Test runs, equalling Sir Don Bradman’s record of 13 Tests.

In 23 T20I games so far, Mendis has rustled up 381 runs while he has totalled 353 runs from five ODIs. It was during India’s visit to Sri Lanka after the World T20 triumph last year that his USP came to light when he bowled with both arms to Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant in a T20I. The sum of Rs 75 lakh, which the Orange Army forked out for the low-profile, talented performer, looks well spent.  

Kamindu Mendis has been in prolific form in Tests for Sri Lanka

During the lone over against KKR, commentator Pommie Mbangwa, a former Zimbabwe international, said on air: “He bowled accurately with both arms. But it is confusing for a batter, isn’t it?”

Just before the IPL season, he married his long-time girlfriend Nishni, but cancelled his honeymoon to travel to India for the tournament. Pathum Gunawardana, his wedding planner, was quoted as saying: ‘’Both are on a short honeymoon at Haputale. They have not gone on an overseas honeymoon because the player is committed to play for Sunrisers Hyderabad team in the IPL and he will begin his training for the IPL at the earliest.’’

A clinical KKR took down Sunrisers, last year’s runners-up, who have now slumped to their third straight defeat. It will give head coach Daniel Vettori plenty to think about ahead of the next game against Gujarat Titans on Sunday, 6 April.