At 22, he has already seems a world class player, a talent, who has the potential to conquer the world. his first test century against Australia last year, was an epic innings. Though he was row, unpolished, but still Dismentled Australians with his fearless n counter attacking batting. And, suddenly millions of die hard Sri Lanka fans found a new hero.
But, during following tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa, his reputation faded away, by some extent. reason was quite simple : he is a born test cricketer, but selectors rushed him in all formats too quickly.
When he shown good form in tests, they brought him in ODIs, and before he could have established himself in those two formats, they waste no time to brought him in the t20 bangdown as well.
He had to struggle. So he struggled. because it all happened to quickly for him. there was no time for him, to look after his game, and more importantly to adjust his game for the each separate format.
But, yesterday, against Bangladesh, the 22 year old prodigy rediscovered his form against again. He scored a composed century against the tourist side, with full determination.
In his favorite format, he prospered big time and shows the world again, that he is ready to conquer the game. He is the youngest Sri Lankan to score a test century, and now he has become the youngest Sri Lankan to cross 1000 test runs, surpassed legendary Arjuna Ranatunga.
That innings of Kusal Mendis will surely give a indication to the selectors as well : he is not a talent to waste.
Surely he will succeed in other formats as well. He has the potential to become one of the greatest batsman of the game, in all three formats. He has already 8 ODI half centuries and his effortless sixes in test matches, indicates he will be a devastating t20 batsman too.
But, for that to be happend, he need time. After all, he is still a 22 year old batting prodigy!
