OTD: Dinesh Chandimal was born in 1989

Born on November 18, 1989, Dinesh Chandimal has become one of Sri Lanka’s most reliable batters across formats. Over the years, he has taken the responsibility of stabilising Sri Lanka’s batting line-up in the post-Sangakkara-and-Jayawardene era.

Initially rejected as a bowler for a suspect action, Chandimal reinvented himself as a wicketkeeper-batter, inspired by Romesh Kaluwitharana’s approach. His performances at school and age group level, including centuries against India and England U-19s, fast-tracked him to the 2008 U-19 World Cup and, eventually, the senior national set-up.

He made an immediate impact in international cricket. At just 21, he smashed 111 against India in Zimbabwe, and soon followed it with a memorable century at Lord’s in 2011. On his Test debut in Durban in 2011, Chandimal hammered fifties in both innings, playing a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s historic first Test win in South Africa.

Through the next decade, he became one of the anchors of Sri Lanka’s red-ball batting. His unbeaten 162 against India at Galle in 2015 remains one of the memorable innings by a Sri Lankan. A year later, his 132 against Australia in Colombo helped script a famous 3-0 whitewash. In 2017, as Test captain, he led Sri Lanka to a historic 2-0 series win over Pakistan in the UAE, breaking their long-standing record with a 155.

After a lean phase, he bounced back in 2022 with an unbeaten 206 against Australia, followed by a series of crucial knocks from No. 3 to No. 7. Since 2022, he has averaged nearly 55 in Tests, ranking among the top batters in the world. With 6361 runs in 90 Tests, including 16 centuries and 34 fifties, Chandimal is among Sri Lanka’s top seven run-getters in the format. 

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

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