Sri Lanka's Dhananjaya de Silva Backs Niroshan Dickwella Ahead of Test Series Against India
Sri Lanka's Captain Supports Dickwella for Upcoming Test
Galle [Sri Lanka], August 14: Dhananjaya de Silva, the captain of Sri Lanka, has expressed his confidence in wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella, emphasizing that his exceptional glovework was a key factor in his selection for the first Test against India. The match is set to take place at the Galle International Cricket Stadium on Saturday, as both teams aim to enhance their standings in the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27.
During a press conference prior to the Test, de Silva stated, “The only advice I have for Niroshan Dickwella is to maintain his form. That’s the reason he’s part of the team.” Dickwella, who has participated in 54 Tests, is making a return to the squad after a significant absence. He has accumulated 2,757 runs in Test cricket at an average of 30.97, with a top score of 96.
De Silva highlighted the importance of wicketkeeping skills in the Galle conditions when finalizing the playing XI. He noted, “Dickwella had to step back from the Test squad in recent years due to Kusal Mendis performing well at No. 7, which limited Dickwella’s opportunities.”
“However, in Galle, it’s crucial to have the player with the best glovework on the field,” he added.
Additionally, de Silva showed support for fast bowler Lahiru Kumara, who has been included in the squad despite recent injury challenges. The 28-year-old has taken 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. De Silva remarked, “As a nation and team, we don’t have a vast pool of players to experiment with.”
“Currently, there’s no bowler in Sri Lanka who can replace Lahiru Kumara. He is our fastest option in red-ball cricket,” he continued. “Unfortunately, his injury in the West Indies led to a series that we could have won ending in a 1-0 defeat. I hope he uses this as motivation to perform exceptionally in this series.”
Sri Lanka has played four Tests in the current WTC cycle, sitting in sixth place with a points percentage of 41.67, while India is in fifth with 48.15.
With home conditions likely favoring spin, Sri Lanka will rely on their seasoned players to challenge an Indian team captained by Shubman Gill.
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.