Sri Lankan wicketkeeper batter Kusalmendis has opted out of the rest of PSL 2025 amid safety concerns. However, the right-handed batsman has signed with the Gujarat Titans (GT) as an alternative to Jos Buttler in the IPL 2025 playoffs.
Kusarmendis, who represented Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League, played the franchise’s final match on May 7th. The tournament was suspended due to tensions between India and Pakistan. In particular, the PSL will resume on Saturday, May 17th, with the final match scheduled for May 25th.
Kusal Mendis will make Gujarat Titans IPL debut in the playoffs
Kusal Mendis is set to make the Gujarat Titans IPL debut in the playoffs. The Sri Lankan wicketkeeper batter was signed as a replacement for Jos Butler. Jos Butler leaves the tournament after the league stage and joins the England Whiteball team for an ODI series with the West Indies.
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Butler will play the final match of GT against Ahmedabad’s Chennai Super Kings on May 25th. To fill in the blanks, GT brought Mendis with him for £75 lakh. He will be available to choose if the team qualifies for the playoffs that will begin on May 29th.
The franchise chose a similar profile in Mendis as Buttler has played a dual role as a top-notch batter and wicketkeeper. Sri Lanka is also expected to be third in the Ashishnera-led side.
Kusal Mendis brings GT international experience in the IPL 2025 playoffs
Kusal Mendis played his last competitive match at Quetta on May 7th. He scored 143 runs in five PSL 2025 games with 168 strike rates. Gujarat already has Anujat and Kumark Shagra as wicket keeping options, but the franchise has opted for an international experience in high pressure games.
The 30-year-old has attended several IPL auctions in the past, but has not been sold until now. He is currently awaiting an Indian visa and is expected to join Titan by Saturday.
Mendis played 178 T20 games, averaging 4,718 runs with a strike rate of 137.43. He reached 32 years and 2 centuries. Behind the stumps, he acquired 121 catches and ran 17 stumps.
2022 IPL Champion will return to action against Delhi Capitals on May 18th
The Gujarat Titans are at the top of the IPL standings with 16 points after 11 games. They secure a spot in the playoffs with another victory. The Shubman Gill-led team has the opportunity to secure a top two finish.
The 2022 IPL champions will return to action in a match against Delhi Capitals (DC) in Delhi on May 18th. He then took on the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Narendra Modi International Stadium.
GT’s final match was a three-wicket rain-affected victory over the Mumbai Indians in Wankhede Stadium. During the league break, the Ahmedabad-based team first resumed training in preparation for the final match of the season.
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