Tillakaratne Dilshan, one of my most favourite cricketers of all time, turns 45 today.
There is no actual reason for Dilshan being my favourite.
I just loved watching him, with bat, with ball, on field, anything.
Dilshan was one of the giants of cricket, especially ODIs.
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There is no actual reason for Dilshan being my favourite.
I just loved watching him, with bat, with ball, on field, anything.
Dilshan was one of the giants of cricket, especially ODIs.
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He is one of six men with the 10,000 run-1,000 wicket-100 dismissal treble in ODIs.
Of them, he is the only one to have been a specialist Test wicketkeeper at some point.
I do not mean stepping in for an injured wicketkeeper: he *started* three Test matches as wicketkeeper.
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Of them, he is the only one to have been a specialist Test wicketkeeper at some point.
I do not mean stepping in for an injured wicketkeeper: he *started* three Test matches as wicketkeeper.
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Talking about Test cricket, Dilshan (40.98) averaged more than in the format than Jayasuriya (40.07), Atapattu (39.02), and Karunaratne (38.62 as I write).
Dilshan played until he was 40 (I thought he always looked 25).
He scored 4,674 ODI runs after turning 35.
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Dilshan played until he was 40 (I thought he always looked 25).
He scored 4,674 ODI runs after turning 35.
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Jayasuriya is the only other batter to have scored more than 4,000 over this period.
Misbah and Sangakkara are the only others to have got even 2,200.
Dilshan and Hafeez (a very recent addition) are the only ones to have scored 1,000 in T20Is after 35.
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Misbah and Sangakkara are the only others to have got even 2,200.
Dilshan and Hafeez (a very recent addition) are the only ones to have scored 1,000 in T20Is after 35.
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Dilshan's ODI numbers after 35+ do not include the 2011 World Cup, where he was the leading run-scorer.
Yuvraj, Player of the Tournament:
362 runs @ 90.50 SR 86
15 wickets @ 25.13 ec 5.02
3 catches
Dilshan:
500 runs @ 62.50, 91
8 wickets @ 15.75, 4,06
6 catches
Comparable.
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Yuvraj, Player of the Tournament:
362 runs @ 90.50 SR 86
15 wickets @ 25.13 ec 5.02
3 catches
Dilshan:
500 runs @ 62.50, 91
8 wickets @ 15.75, 4,06
6 catches
Comparable.
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In the 2015 World Cup, Dilshan had 395 runs (65.83, 97), 5 wickets (32.60, 4.89), 3 catches.
Against Australia, he hit six fours in a single over from Johnson. Which was a better World Cup for him, I wonder.
There are many, many Dilshan innings I can list.
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Against Australia, he hit six fours in a single over from Johnson. Which was a better World Cup for him, I wonder.
There are many, many Dilshan innings I can list.
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Arjuna called him "a captain's dream".
Mathews said that Dilshan contributed to Sri Lankan cricket as much as Mahela and Sanga.
Sanga himself put him next to only Jayasuriya.
Andrew Fidel Fernando:
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Mathews said that Dilshan contributed to Sri Lankan cricket as much as Mahela and Sanga.
Sanga himself put him next to only Jayasuriya.
Andrew Fidel Fernando:
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"Dilshan's utopia is a planet full of Dilshans. At the very least, it is a world in which everyone leans into their work with the blinding energy he brings to his. Doesn’t that seem an improvement on the world that we are stuck with? It is difficult to argue against."
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That energy is something you needed to see to believe. For unlike us mortals, there was not a single negative bone in him.
AND HE HAS A BLOODY CRICKET SHOT NAMED AFTER HIM.
My favourite Dilshan moment is from February 10, 2006.
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AND HE HAS A BLOODY CRICKET SHOT NAMED AFTER HIM.
My favourite Dilshan moment is from February 10, 2006.
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Sri Lanka had edged past South Africa to meet Australia in the best-of-three finals of the VB series.
The first final was at the Adelaide Oval. Sri Lanka made 274/8, impressive but Australia were a strong line-up (Lee batted at 10).
Gilchrist and Katich got some runs.
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The first final was at the Adelaide Oval. Sri Lanka made 274/8, impressive but Australia were a strong line-up (Lee batted at 10).
Gilchrist and Katich got some runs.
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Then Gilchrist got out. Ponting arrived.
Katich edged to point.
Ponting set off, less than a year after that Gary Pratt thing.
No, said Katich. He probably knew.
Ponting turned, but Dilshan had already been sprinting towards the bowlers' end.
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Katich edged to point.
Ponting set off, less than a year after that Gary Pratt thing.
No, said Katich. He probably knew.
Ponting turned, but Dilshan had already been sprinting towards the bowlers' end.
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And you do not win a sprint against Dilshan even if you are Ponting.
Three overs later, Martyn pushed one to point and set off.
Direct hit at bowler's end. Gone.
Katich held the fort until he pushed one to the left of mid wicket and ran.
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Three overs later, Martyn pushed one to point and set off.
Direct hit at bowler's end. Gone.
Katich held the fort until he pushed one to the left of mid wicket and ran.
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Clarke sent him back (WHO TAKES ON DILSHAN?).
Too late.
Clarke survived a close leg-before against Kulasekara. The ball trickled towards DILSHAN.
For some reason Hussey was confident he would make it. He never did.
Four run outs.
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Too late.
Clarke survived a close leg-before against Kulasekara. The ball trickled towards DILSHAN.
For some reason Hussey was confident he would make it. He never did.
Four run outs.
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In an archaic scorecard Dilshan's name would not have appeared.
Crediting fielders for run outs is a recent concept.
Hopes then hit Murali to mid-wicket. The fielder was, well... you can guess.
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Crediting fielders for run outs is a recent concept.
Hopes then hit Murali to mid-wicket. The fielder was, well... you can guess.
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Between winning two World Cups, while ruling the world of cricket, one of the strongest sides in history surrendered to a fielder.
How can you not love Dilshan?
How can you not love Dilshan?
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