Niroshan Dickwella’s selection for the first Test against India here in Galle was one of the most debatable subjects in Sri Lankan cricket. He was brought back into the international fold after three-and-a-half years. A hamstring injury to the team’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman, Kusal Mendis, paved the way for the 33-year-old’s return, and yet, not many were convinced.
The period in exile wasn’t easy for Dickwella. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) suspended him for failing a random doping test during the 2024 Lanka Premier League. He was banned for three years, which was eventually shortened to three months following a successful appeal, after the disciplinary panel found that the offence happened out of competition and the player didn’t use a performance-enhancing substance.
Dickwella has been showing steel on his return. He raced to his first Test half-century in four years off 67 balls and went to the tea break unbeaten on 72 off 101 deliveries. He survived a couple of close calls but didn’t lose his concentration. He played with soft hands, ensuring that the softer ball didn’t carry to hand when he edged it. He used the sweep shot to good effect and ran well between the wickets.
Sri Lanka went to lunch on 99/5, staring at a batting implosion. But Dickwella, in the company of Sonal Dinusha, has been doing the rebuilding job. So far, they have added 125 runs for the sixth wicket, as the hosts went to tea on 215/5.
Dinusha, too, has reached his half-century and is batting on 62 off 116 balls. It’s been a sedate knock so far, but Dinusha is proving to be a perfect foil for Dickwella.
Shubman Gill rotated his bowlers in the second session. He brought on Ravindra Jadeja from the Fort End before bringing Mohammed Siraj back into the attack. The fast bowler got a bit of reverse swing, but the Sri Lankan pair remained unseparated.
Tea scores: India 462 vs Sri Lanka 215/5 (Niroshan Dickwella 72 batting, Sonal Dinusha 62 batting; Manav Suthar 2/53)
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