Sri Lanka were reeling on 86/6 in response to India's 252 on day one of the second Test, leaving the hosts 166 runs ahead so far in the day-night game.
Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal also acknowledged Mendis and Mathews had saved the game for his side, who were dominated by New Zealand over the first three days.
Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka attributed his side's humiliating loss in the Asia Cup final to lack of application from batters and credited wrecker-in-chief Mohammed Siraj for his "outstanding" spell which set up India's 10-wicket win.
The spotlight will, however, continue to be on the 33-year-old Kohli in Mohali with the contest against Sri Lanka being his 100th Test match for the country.
'So, if one or two (batsmen) from the top-order can bowl it will definitely help the team, of course, depending on pitch conditions and situations. Also, it will be a surprise element to the opposition, if a batter can bowl.'
Sri Lanka thrashed the Netherlands by a whopping 83 runs in an inconsequential final group D league game of the T20 World Cup.
Zaman was devastated, realising that luck had abandoned him when he needed it most.
New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in the first T20I of the three-match series in Pallekele.
After playing a major role in Chennai Super Kings' IPL triumph, young pace bowler Matheesha Pathirana will be hoping to make the same impact for Sri Lanka in the ODI series against Afghanistan.
Binura Fernando and Kasun Rajitha, who were named in the original squad, will not tour owing to injuries sustained during the SLC Invitational T20 League 2022.
The 30-year-old will lead the team while playing his first one-day game since 2015.
A place in the final at stake, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh would expect their batsmen to fire as they lock horns in a virtual semi-final of the Nidahas Twenty20 tri-series, in Colombo, on Friday.
Images from the ICC Men's ODI World Cup match between Sri Lanka and Australia at the Ekana Sports City Stadium in Lucknow.
England fast bowler James Anderson took five wickets to inspire the hosts to a crushing victory over Sri Lanka by an innings and 88 runs in the first Test in Leeds on Saturday.
Sri Lanka's Twenty20 captain Lasith Malinga will not be part of the 24-member squad for the second residential training camp, starting June 22 in Kandy, it was announced on Thursday. A six-member unit of coaches and other support staff will work with the players during the camp at the Pallekele stadium.
IMAGES from the T20 World Cup Super 12 match played between Australia and Sri Lanka in Perth on Tuesday.
It was the first time in Test cricket that a full day's play had been completed without a wicket falling since the first day of the second match between South Africa and Bangladesh on Feb. 29, 2008.
Paceman Thakur led India's disciplined effort with the ball to restrict Sri Lanka to a below-par 152 for nine in a rain-hit match which was reduced to a 19-overs-a-side contest.
Images from the T20 World Cup match between Sri Lanka and Ireland, in Hobart, on Sunday.
A spirited Afghanistan upset Sri Lanka by seven wickets to continue their memorable campaign at World Cup 2023.
The Sri Lanka-Afghanistan fixture will be the second one at the Gadaffi Stadium and is expected to be a run feast. - Asia Cup 2023.
Images from Asia Cup Super 4s match played between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka in Sharjah on Saturday.
Just when things looked to go well for Pakistan, Shadab dropped Bhanuka Rajapaksa at long on off Haris.
England beat Sri Lanka by 211 runs inside four days in the first Test to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series at the Galle International Stadium on Friday.
Sri Lanka will arrive in South Africa on Saturday, with the first Test in Pretoria starting on Boxing Day. The second will be in Johannesburg from January 3.
India lifted the Asia Cup after routing defending champions Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the final with Mohammed Siraj claiming a career-best 6/21.
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be eager to shake off modest ODI form and spate of injuries to key players as they seek to start their Asia Cup campaign on a winning note when they face each other in Pallekele on Thursday.
Sri Lanka set Australia a stiff 268-run victory target before claiming three wickets in a truncated afternoon session to take the upper hand on the penultimate day of the first Test in Pallekele on Friday.
Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood was disappointed by his team's meek outing in the Asia Cup final but said it was a timely wake up call for his side ahead of the ODI World Cup next month.
Dinesh Chandimal smashed 118 not out and Kamindu Mendis produced a half-century in his debut Test to help Sri Lanka eclipse Australia's first innings 364 on day three of the second Test in Galle on Sunday.
Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne made 52, while Kusal Mendis (48) and Dhananjaya de Silva (33) also contributed with the bat for the tourists.
England picked up three early wickets as Sri Lanka struggled to 218 for six at lunch on the third day of the third and final Test at Lord's on Saturday.
IMAGES from the World Cup match between England and Sri Lanka, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, on Thursday.
Angelo Mathews, playing his 100th Test, batted aggressively and got a reprieve when Babar floored a sitter at cover when the batsman was on 36.
Images from the T20 World Cup match between Sri Lanka and England at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.
Pakistan are traditionally good against spinners but Babar Azam and Co. would take the likes of promising Dunith Wellalage and company lightly at their peril.
Pacers Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Gamage have been added to the Sri Lankan squad ahead of the third Test against India starting in Pallekele on Saturday.
The Kandy franchise is owned by Bollywood actor and producer Sohail Khan, younger brother of superstar Salman Khan.
Dinesh Chandimal will lead a 14-man squad in the absence of injured captain Angelo Mathews in the two-match T20 series against Australia, starting from Tuesday in Pallekele.
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