5. Kamindu Mendis

2024 Stats: Matches: 9; Runs: 1049; Average: 74.93

Kamindu Mendis spent most of the year giving robust Sri Lanka from the mid to lower-order batting. He began with back-to-back innings of 102 and 92 not out against Bangladesh, and he improved further on tour in England, scoring 113, 74, and 64 in successive Tests.

He dominated a home series against New Zealand, scoring two centuries, the second of which was an undefeated 182, making him the series' highest scorer by a country mile. He had a more difficult time on tour in South Africa, but at the end of the year, his astonishing ability to bowl both right- and left-arm spin was nothing compared to the brilliance of his technically skilled batting.