By Srian Obeyesekere

Sri Lankan all-rounder Kamindu Mendis, who virtually came from the cold storage of the wilderness from a 2-year long hibernation to winning the coveted ICC Men’s Player of the Month Award for March 2024, is indeed a truly personal triumph against the odds after the youngster lost his way despite breaking into the big stage with a maiden half century 61 against Australia in Galle in a 2022 home series.

In that backdrop it was an against the odds feat to winning top rung recognition from the world keepers of cricket in beating the two other competitors for the award namely New Zealand’s star speedster Matt Henry and Ireland pacer Mark Adair.

Twenty five-year old, Mendis, a product of Richmond College, Galle, who became the third Sri Lankan after Prabath Jayasuriya and Wanindu Hasaranga to win the ICC men’s Player of the Month, topped a run bounty last March aggregating 68  in the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh and went on to literally reach the summit of twin century brilliance -102 and 164 – in the first test and 92 in the second with a 3-wicket take that earned him the Player of the Match award in that triumph as well as the Player of the Series award to boot following his telling contribution in the 2 -nil test series triumph against Bangladesh.

Mendis reacted to winning the award by saying that it was an inspiration and motivation to his international career. He was modest about it as well in tributing his competitors to be excellent players.