Sri Lanka's Captain Dhananjaya de Silva Supports Niroshan Dickwella Ahead of Test Series Against India
Sri Lanka's Preparations for the Test Series
Dhananjaya de Silva, the captain of Sri Lanka, has expressed confidence in wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella's ability to perform against India. He emphasized that Dickwella's exceptional glovework was a key factor in his selection for the opening match of the two-Test series in Galle. The first Test is set to take place at the Galle International Cricket Stadium on Saturday, with both teams aiming to enhance their standings in the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.
"The main advice I have for Niroshan Dickwella is to maintain his form. That's the reason he is part of the team," de Silva stated during a press conference prior to the Test. Dickwella, who has participated in 54 Tests, is making a return to the Sri Lankan Test squad after a significant absence. He has accumulated 2,757 Test runs with an average of 30.97, including a top score of 96.
De Silva elaborated that the unique conditions at Galle necessitated careful consideration of wicketkeeping skills when finalizing the playing XI. "Dickwella had to step back from the Test squad in recent years due to Kusal Mendis's performance at No. 7, where he has excelled. Consequently, Dickwella didn't have the opportunity to return until now. However, at Galle, it's crucial to have the player with the best glovework on the field," he added.
Support for Fast Bowler Lahiru Kumara
De Silva also voiced his support for fast bowler Lahiru Kumara, who has been included in the squad despite recent injury challenges. The 28-year-old has claimed 104 wickets in 35 Tests and is recognized as Sri Lanka's fastest bowler in red-ball cricket. Kumara faced a hamstring injury after bowling just one over against the West Indies in June, which sidelined him for the remainder of that series.
"As a nation and team, we lack a vast pool of players for experimentation," de Silva remarked. "Currently, there is no bowler in Sri Lanka who can substitute for Lahiru Kumara in the squad. He is our fastest option in red-ball cricket," he continued. "Unfortunately, his injury during the West Indies series led to a defeat that we could have avoided. I hope he channels that experience as motivation to excel in this series."
Current Standings in the WTC Cycle
In the ongoing World Test Championship cycle, Sri Lanka has played four Tests and currently holds the sixth position with a points percentage of 41.67, while India is in fifth place with 48.15. With home conditions likely favoring spin bowlers, Sri Lanka will rely on their seasoned players to perform well against an Indian team captained by Shubman Gill.
Squads for the Test Series
India Test Squad: Shubman Gill (c), KL Rahul (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Saransh Jain, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Auqib Nabi, Sarfaraz Khan.
Sri Lanka Test Squad: Dhananjaya De Silva (captain), Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Keshara Nuwantha, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka.