Balapuwaduge Ajantha Winslow Mendis is a bowler from Sri Lanka. For Nepal Premier League Season 3 (2026) he is head coach of Pokhara Avengers. Born on 11 March 1985 in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka; full name Balapuwaduge Ajantha Winslow Mendis, a right-handed batter and right-arm bowler known as the 'mystery spinner' due to his unusual variations. He played for Sri Lanka from 2008 to 2015, appearing in 19 Tests, 87 ODIs and 39 T20Is and taking 288 international wickets across formats (70 Test, 152 ODI, 66 T20I).
In the 2008 Asia Cup final he took 6 for 13 against India and helped Sri Lanka win the title. In his first Test series, against India, he took 26 wickets, and on Test debut he returned match figures of 8 for 132, the best by a Sri Lankan bowler on Test debut. His most extensive senior record is in ODI cricket: 87 matches, 188 runs, 152 wickets.
About Balapuwaduge Ajantha Winslow Mendis
Born on 11 March 1985 in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka; full name Balapuwaduge Ajantha Winslow Mendis, a right-handed batter and right-arm bowler known as the 'mystery spinner' due to his unusual variations. He played for Sri Lanka from 2008 to 2015, appearing in 19 Tests, 87 ODIs and 39 T20Is and taking 288 international wickets across formats (70 Test, 152 ODI, 66 T20I). In the 2008 Asia Cup final he took 6 for 13 against India and helped Sri Lanka win the title.
In his first Test series, against India, he took 26 wickets, and on Test debut he returned match figures of 8 for 132, the best by a Sri Lankan bowler on Test debut. He was the fastest bowler to 50 ODI wickets, reaching the mark in just 19 matches, and holds T20I figures of 6 for 8 against Zimbabwe in 2012, achieved as one of two six-wicket hauls in T20Is. He was a member of the Sri Lanka team that won the 2014 ICC World Twenty20.
For Season 3 (2026), Pokhara Avengers appointed him head coach for Nepal Premier League Season 3.
Player details
| Full name | Balapuwaduge Ajantha Winslow Mendis |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 11 March 1985 |
| Birthplace | Moratuwa, Sri Lanka |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Playing role | Bowler |
| Batting style | Right-handed |
| Bowling style | Right-arm off spin |
| NPL role (Season 3) | Head coach — Pokhara Avengers |
Playing style and strengths
Ajantha Mendis is a right-handed bowler who bowls right-arm off spin.
His ODI record underlines that role: a best of 21* across 87 matches. With the ball his T20I figures read 66 wickets with a best of 6/8.
Ajantha Mendis’s coaching role in the NPL
Ajantha Mendis’s Nepal Premier League record, season by season, as verified from league coverage and squad records.
Season 3 (2026). Appointed head coach of Pokhara Avengers for Season 3 (2026).
Ajantha Mendis career records
Senior career figures for Ajantha Mendis as published by Wikipedia and copied exactly from the profile summary tables; figures are not recalculated here.
| Format | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | 100s/50s | Wickets | Best bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 19 | 213 | 78 | 34.77 | 0/1 | 70 | 6/99 |
| ODI | 87 | 188 | 21* | 21.86 | 0/0 | 152 | 6/13 |
| T20I | 39 | 8 | 4* | 14.42 | 0/0 | 66 | 6/8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ajantha Mendis coaching in the NPL?
Yes — Balapuwaduge Ajantha Winslow Mendis is head coach of Pokhara Avengers for Nepal Premier League Season 3 (2026).
What is Ajantha Mendis’s playing role?
He is a bowler. He bats right-handed and bowls right-arm off spin.
When was Ajantha Mendis born?
Balapuwaduge Ajantha Winslow Mendis was born on 11 March 1985 in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.
Where is Ajantha Mendis from?
Ajantha Mendis is a cricketer from Sri Lanka.
Sources
Ajantha Mendis — Wikipedia: Born on 11 March 1985 in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka; full name Balapuwaduge Ajantha Winslow Mendis, a right-handed batter and right-arm bowler known as the 'mystery spinner' due to his unusual variations. In his first Test series, against India, he took 26 wickets, and on Test debut he returned match figures of 8 for 132, the best by a Sri Lankan bowler on Test debut.
Ajantha Mendis appointed Pokhara Avengers head coach — Cricnepal: He played for Sri Lanka from 2008 to 2015, appearing in 19 Tests, 87 ODIs and 39 T20Is and taking 288 international wickets across formats (70 Test, 152 ODI, 66 T20I). In the 2008 Asia Cup final he took 6 for 13 against India and helped Sri Lanka win the title.
Ajantha Mendis appointed as Pokhara coach — Kantipur
Ajantha Mendis named Pokhara Avengers head coach for NPL Season 3 — NPL Cricket League (site article)
Follow Pokhara Avengers
Pokhara Avengers — the franchise page with the current squad, fixtures and results.
Related players: Shakib Al Hasan, Kushal Bhurtel and Aakash Chand are among the Pokhara Avengers players Ajantha Mendis coaches in Season 3 (2026). See the full Pokhara Avengers squad.