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Why Gujarat Titans Cannot Retain Kusal Mendis for IPL 2026 Despite Impressive Recent Form In Recent International Matches

Vishnu PN

Kusal Mendis played just one match for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025.

Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis produced a splendid display as he scored a century in the third ODI against Bangladesh in Pallekele on Tuesday.

This is Kusal Mendis’ sixth century in ODIs and his knock helped Sri Lanka post 285/7 from 50 overs after opting to bat first.

Kusal Mendis thus continued his recent impressive form in international cricket. He scored 84 runs in the first innings of the second Test against Bangladesh recently, and followed it up with knocks of 45 and 56 in the first two ODIs.

Where the third SL vs BAN ODI stands

At the time of writing this report, Bangladesh were 40/2 in the eighth over while looking to chase down a total of 286. Parvez Hossain Emon and Towhid Hridoy were the unbeaten batters. Bangladesh had lost Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Najmul Hossain Shanto early on in the powerplay.

Upcoming – t20 – Klang
Assam Women tour of Malaysia, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 07:30 AM IST
Malaysia Women MAL-W

Assam Women ASM-W

Result – t20 – Kecamatan Kuta Selatan
Bali Bash International Tri Series, 2025
South Korea SK

116/10

Indonesia INA

168/10

Indonesia beat South Korea by 52 runs

Upcoming – t20 – Kecamatan Kuta Selatan
Bali Bash International Tri Series, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 07:00 AM IST
Philippines PHL

South Korea SK

Upcoming – t20 – Kecamatan Kuta Selatan
Bali Bash International Tri Series, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 11:30 AM IST
South Korea SK

Indonesia INA

Result – oneday – Pallekele
Bangladesh tour of Sri Lanka, 2025
Sri Lanka SL

285/7

Bangladesh BAN

186/10

Sri Lanka won by 99 runs

Result – t20 – Sofia
ECN Bulgaria T20IW, 2025
Bulgaria Women BUL-W

132/4

Greece Women GRC-W

176/2

Greece Women beat Bulgaria Women by 44 runs

Result – t20 – Sofia
ECN Bulgaria T20IW, 2025
Greece Women GRC-W

123/9

Serbia Women SBA-W

122/10

Greece Women beat Serbia Women by 1 wickets

Result – t20 – Sofia
ECN Bulgaria T20IW, 2025
Turkey Women TKW-W

221/4

Bulgaria Women BUL-W

55/10

Turkey Women beat Bulgaria Women by 166 runs

Upcoming – t20 – Sofia
ECN Bulgaria T20IW, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 11:45 AM IST
Serbia Women SBA-W

Bulgaria Women BUL-W

Upcoming – t20 – Sofia
ECN Bulgaria T20IW, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 03:45 PM IST
Turkey Women TKW-W

Greece Women GRC-W

Result – t10 – Belgium
European Cricket Series Belgium T10, 2025
Gent Wolves GENW

188/2

Hasselt Titans HAST

123/7

Gent Wolves beat Hasselt Titans by 65 runs

Result – t10 – Belgium
European Cricket Series Belgium T10, 2025
Hasselt Titans HAST

123/4

Ostend Tigers OSTG

119/6

Hasselt Titans beat Ostend Tigers by 6 wickets

Result – t10 – Belgium
European Cricket Series Belgium T10, 2025
Liege Stallions LEST

138/6

Antwerp Giants ATPG

139/6

Antwerp Giants beat Liege Stallions by 4 wickets

Result – t10 – Belgium
European Cricket Series Belgium T10, 2025
Gent Wolves GENW

142/7

Ostend Tigers OSTG

146/5

Ostend Tigers beat Gent Wolves by 4 runs

Result – t10 – Belgium
European Cricket Series Belgium T10, 2025
Leuven Lions LEUL

84/10

Brussels Bashers BRBA

84/9

Brussels Bashers tied with Leuven Lions (Brussels Bashers wins the Golden Ball)

Upcoming – t10 – Belgium
European Cricket Series Belgium T10, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 12:15 PM IST
Antwerp Giants ATPG

Gent Wolves GENW

Upcoming – t10 – Belgium
European Cricket Series Belgium T10, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 02:15 PM IST
Liege Stallions LEST

Gent Wolves GENW

Upcoming – t10 – Belgium
European Cricket Series Belgium T10, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 04:15 PM IST
Hasselt Titans HAST

Liege Stallions LEST

Upcoming – t10 – Belgium
European Cricket Series Belgium T10, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 06:15 PM IST
Leuven Lions LEUL

Hasselt Titans HAST

Upcoming – t10 – Belgium
European Cricket Series Belgium T10, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 08:30 PM IST
Brussels Bashers BRBA

Ostend Tigers OSTG

Upcoming – t10 – Belgium
European Cricket Series Belgium T10, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 10:30 PM IST
Antwerp Giants ATPG

Ostend Tigers OSTG

Result – t20 – Kamrup Metropolitan
GTC Summer Challenge T20 Trophy, 2025
Gauhati Town Club GTC

125/7

91 Yards Club 91YC

131/6

91 Yards Club beat Gauhati Town Club by 6 runs

Result – t20 – Kamrup Metropolitan
GTC Summer Challenge T20 Trophy, 2025
Bud Cricket Club BCC

132/6

Navarang Club NVR

85/10

Bud Cricket Club beat Navarang Club by 47 runs (VJD method)

Upcoming – t20 – Kamrup Metropolitan
GTC Summer Challenge T20 Trophy, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 09:30 AM IST
91 Yards Club 91YC

Bud Cricket Club BCC

Upcoming – t20 – Kamrup Metropolitan
GTC Summer Challenge T20 Trophy, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 01:30 PM IST
City Cricket Club CCC

Nabajyoti Club NAJC

Result – t20 – Den Haag
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Regional Final 2025
Guernsey GUE

138/5

Jersey JER

160/4

Jersey beat Guernsey by 22 runs

Result – t20 – Den Haag
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Regional Final 2025
Netherlands NED

142/7

Scotland SCOT

148/9

Scotland beat Netherlands by 6 runs

Upcoming – t20 – Den Haag
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Regional Final 2025
09 Jul 2025, 02:30 PM IST
Italy ITA

Scotland SCOT

Upcoming – t20 – Den Haag
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Regional Final 2025
09 Jul 2025, 07:30 PM IST
Netherlands NED

Guernsey GUE

Upcoming – t20 – Manchester
India Women tour of England, T20, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 11:00 PM IST
England Women ENG-W

India Women IND-W

Result – t20 – County Dublin
Ireland Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy, 2025
Leinster Lightning LLG

160/2

Munster Reds MUR

159/8

Leinster Lightning beat Munster Reds by 8 wickets

Live – t20 – County Dublin
Ireland Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy, 2025
Northern Knights (Ireland) NK

173/7

North West Warriors NWW

140/2

Upcoming – t20 – County Dublin
Ireland Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 03:15 PM IST
Munster Reds MUR

Northern Knights (Ireland) NK

Upcoming – t20 – County Dublin
Ireland Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 08:15 PM IST
Leinster Lightning LLG

North West Warriors NWW

Live – t20 – Kuwait City
KCC T20 Summer League, 2025
ACE KRM Panthers KRMPS

71/1

Super Lanka SUL

Upcoming – t20 – Kuwait City
KCC T20 Summer League, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 10:45 PM IST
Stack CC STCC

MEC Study Group MECS

Result – t20 – Klang
MCA T20 Tri Series, 2025
Malaysia Blues MB

296/4

Thunderstorm Outlanders THUO

115/9

Malaysia Blues beat Thunderstorm Outlanders by 181 runs

Result – t20 – Klang
MCA T20 Tri Series, 2025
Thunderstorm Outlanders THUO

164/7

Malaysia Reds MR

166/6

Malaysia Reds beat Thunderstorm Outlanders by 4 wickets

Upcoming – t20 – Klang
MCA T20 Tri Series, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 12:45 PM IST
Thunderstorm Outlanders THUO

Malaysia Blues MB

Upcoming – t20 – Grand Prairie
Major League Cricket, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 05:30 AM IST
Washington Freedom WAF

Texas Super Kings TSKS

Upcoming – t20 – Grand Prairie
Major League Cricket, 2025
10 Jul 2025, 05:30 AM IST
San Francisco Unicorns SFU

MI New York MINY

Result – t20 – Puducherry
Pondicherry Premier League, 2025
Ruby White Town Legends RWT

137/8

Villianur Mohit Kings VMK

138/4

Villianur Mohit Kings beat Ruby White Town Legends by 6 wickets

Result – t20 – Puducherry
Pondicherry Premier League, 2025
Yanam Royals YAR

164/9

Mahe Megalo Strikers MMS

155/7

Yanam Royals beat Mahe Megalo Strikers by 9 runs

Upcoming – t20 – Puducherry
Pondicherry Premier League, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 02:00 PM IST
Ruby White Town Legends RWT

Yanam Royals YAR

Upcoming – t20 – Puducherry
Pondicherry Premier League, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 06:00 PM IST
Ossudu Accord Warriors OAW

Karaikal Kniights KAK

Result – t20 – Malawi
Quadrangular T20I Series in Malawi, 2025
Tanzania TAN

215/4

Bahrain BHN

209/5

Tanzania beat Bahrain by 6 wickets

Upcoming – t20 – Malawi
Quadrangular T20I Series in Malawi, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 01:00 PM IST
Tanzania TAN

Malawi ML

Upcoming – t20 – Malawi
Quadrangular T20I Series in Malawi, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 05:15 PM IST
Germany GER

Bahrain BHN

Upcoming – oneday – Marrara
Sri Lanka A tour of Australia, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 06:00 AM IST
Australia A AUS A

Sri Lanka A SL-A

Live – t10 – Gros Islet
St.Lucia T10 Blast, 2025
Whiptail Smashers WTS

74/7

Piton Strikers PTS

1/0

Toss – t10 – Gros Islet
St.Lucia T10 Blast, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 12:00 AM IST
Amazonian Warriors AMW

Iyanola Heritage IYH

Live – t20 – United Kingdom
Vitality T20 Blast, 2025
Somerset SOM

200/4

Essex ESS

Upcoming – t20 – United Kingdom
Vitality T20 Blast, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 09:30 PM IST
Middlesex MID

Hampshire HAM

Upcoming – t20 – United Kingdom
Vitality T20 Blast, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 11:30 PM IST
Gloucestershire GLO

Surrey SURR

Upcoming – t20 – United Kingdom
Vitality T20 Blast, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 11:30 PM IST
Sussex SUSS

Kent KENT

Upcoming – t20 – Birmingham
Vitality T20 Blast, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 11:30 PM IST
Birmingham Bears BB

Lancashire LAN

Result – t20 – United Kingdom
Women’s Vitality Blast T20, 2025
Somerset Women SOM-W

156/6

Essex Women ESS-W

155/5

Somerset Women beat Essex Women by 4 wickets

Upcoming – t20 – United Kingdom
Women’s Vitality Blast T20, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 06:30 PM IST
Hampshire Women HAM-W

Lancashire Women LAN-W

Upcoming – t20 – United Kingdom
Women’s Vitality Blast T20, 2025
09 Jul 2025, 07:30 PM IST
 Birmingham Bears Women BRB-W

Surrey Women SUR-W

Earlier in the match, apart from Kusal Mendis, skipper Charith Asalanka (58) and opener Pathum Nissanka (35) made crucial contributions with the bat.

The three-match ODI series is currently level 1-1. Sri Lanka won the first ODI by 77 runs whereas Bangladesh clinched a 16-run win in the second ODI.

Why Gujarat Titans cannot retain Kusal Mendis for IPL 2026

Earlier this year, the 30-year-old turned up for Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2025 after he was named as a replacement for England’s Jos Buttler.

He played just one match, the Eliminator against Mumbai (MI), which the Shubman Gill-led side lost. In that match, Kusal Mendis scored 20 runs from 10 balls, hitting one four and two sixes. However, despite being named as a replacement, Kusal Mendis cannot be retained by Gujarat Titans ahead of IPL 2026 even if they wanted to.

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It was during the one-week suspension of IPL 2025 when Gujarat Titans had announced Kusal Mendis as replacement for Jos Buttler. Kusal Mendis, however, was only a temporary replacement for Jos Buttler, who had to miss the IPL 2025 playoffs due to international commitments with England.

This also meant that Kusal Mendis wasn’t able to play for Gujarat Titans till May 26, which was a day after their final league stage match. Jos Buttler, as a result, ended up playing all the league stage matches before flying back home.

When foreign players decided against returning for IPL 2025

After the IPL was suspended for a week following the India-Pakistan political tensions, several overseas players including Mitchell Starc, Moeen Ali and Jake Fraser-McGurk pulled out of the remainder of the tournament. This meant that IPL franchises were allowed to replace those players with “temporary replacements” for the rest of the season.

“Given the non-availability of certain foreign players due to national commitments or personal reasons or any injury or illness, Temporary Replacement Players will be allowed until the conclusion of this tournament,” the IPL had said in a statement.

“This decision is subject to the condition that the Temporary Replacement players taken from this point forward will not be eligible for retention in the following year. Temporary Replacement players will have to register for the IPL Player Auction 2026,” the statement added.

Gujarat Titans lost to Mumbai Indians by 20 runs in the Eliminator of IPL 2025, which meant that the former champions’ campaign came to an end. Gujarat Titans had finished third in the IPL 2025 standings with 18 points from 14 matches.

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