For all the drama around Niroshan Dickwella being recalled for the first Test against India, Galle provided a much better show; onlookers realized. It was a treat to watch Dickwella 2.0, compared to the Dickwella of the past.
It had been three long years since he had played a Test. The player who was seen at number seven in the batting order in Galle was a changed man, it seemed. What was more interesting was that the new Dickwella hadn't lost his chaotic nature. He still had the same madness in him, which came out in his batting with the occasional wildly sweeping shots, reverse slaps and charges down the track, and even more unorthodox tries at run outs while keeping wicket.
The one quality that was missing in the revamped Dickwella was his restraint; however, an aspect that he was not known for previously.
A Rescue Act Built on Discipline: Niroshan Dickwella
With Sri Lanka batting at 90/5 responding to India's huge 462, a feared follow-on beckoned. Niroshan Dickwella steadied the Lankan innings, not with fireworks, but with a controlled 80-run contribution, which prevented an immediate follow-on.
The player kept his hands busy, hitting the good balls with soft hands and sweeps, while using his feet often to keep the attack moving. However, Niroshan Dickwella displayed excellent restraint in not taking every scoring opportunity, avoiding unnecessary scoops and charges that had defined his game before.
Despite his consolidation, Dickwella kept the strike running at a healthy rate, posting a first-innings strike rate of nearly 70%, the best among the batters who faced more than five balls. He kept the scoreboard rolling, finding gaps and applying pressure on the Indian bowling attack.
In the meanwhile, Niroshan Dickwella also laid the platform for the 146-run 6th wicket partnership with 25-year-old debutant Sonal Dinusha, who scored a century in his first Test innings. In fact, Dinusha himself has attributed his patient and well-timed innings to Dickwella's rotation of strike.
The Baggage and the Burden of Proof
To put Niroshan Dickwella's contributions in perspective, it is important to understand the context in which he plays his cricket. The Lankan batter's career has been marred by controversy, with the most recent incident occurring in 2024, when he was suspended from the Lanka Premier League following a failed drugs test.
However, his three-year ban was reduced to three months when the independent three-member committee determined the banned substance was out-of-competition and not performance-enhancing.
Furthermore, Dickwella's recall to the national team under highly-charged circumstances becomes clearer in the context of the recent injury to Kusal Mendis.
With the young and promising all-rounder sidelined due to a hamstring injury, the selectors turned to Dickwella over the likes of Anjala Bandara and Sadeera Samarawickrama, citing the 33-year-old's experience. It is evident that the decision to recall Dickwella was not without its risks, as his name has also been associated with the infamous bio-bubble controversy in England in 2021.
As he batted through the innings in Galle, his body language and actions in the first innings spoke of a man who lived up to the immense expectations.
The Ghost of Impulse
However, even the best cricketers are prone to moments of weakness, and Niroshan Dickwella's Galle Test was not an exception. In the Sri Lankan second innings, Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal mocked Dickwella for adopting a conservative approach to batting in the first innings. Dickwella reportedly replied that he would play the “lofted shot” if Jaiswal got him an IPL contract.
With the next delivery, Dickwella, instead of playing the straight drive, took a step back and got out to a leg glance, offering a simple catch to Pant. It is safe to say that the much-needed media splash failed to overshadow Dickwella's magnificent century in the first innings.
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Nevertheless, with the Lankan fans hoping for a more aggressive show from Niroshan Dickwella in the second innings, the ghost of impulse seemed to be waiting in the wings. But as for now, it would seem that Dickwella's first innings masterclass will always hold a special place in the hearts of Sri Lankan cricket fans.
The emergence of Dickwella as a solid Test middle-order batter also brings back the ghosts of another former Lankan opener. Following the historic Test series win in South Africa in 2019, then-captain Dimuth Karunaratne spoke of the positive impact Dickwella has on Lankan cricket. Particularly, he emphasized Niroshan Dickwella's role in bringing the team together. By encouraging his teammates to overcome their bubbles, he created a sense of unity and boosted morale.
Niroshan Dickwella always managed to inspire his teammates, both through action and words. And with his game intelligence and tactical mind, he displayed such qualities on the pitch in Galle, proving himself a leader on and off the field. If Dickwella can keep demonstrating such positive attributes, it would appear that he has the potential to bring far more than a stop-gap to Sri Lankan cricket.