Not many cricketers have graced the game with the elegance and poise of Dimuth Karunaratne. His was a career laced with class, and it all came to a fitting close in Galle this week, surrounded by family, friends, fans, and the top brass of Sri Lankan cricket.
More than just a fine batsman, Dimuth was an even finer human being – something of a rarity in the cutthroat world of modern cricket, especially in the subcontinent. He played and lived his life in a manner befitting his middle name – Frank – honest, straightforward, and true to the spirit of the game.
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Throughout his journey, Dimuth remained controversy-free. Not once was he summoned by the Match Referee for dissent, nor did he find himself entangled in any off-field misadventures that could bring the game into disrepute. He played cricket the way it was meant to be played – hard but fair. There wasn’t a single dressing-room spat, no run-ins with opponents, no clashes with selectors, coaches, or journalists. Simply put, he was a good bloke – one of the few in an era where egos often outshine talent.
The only blot on his otherwise spotless record was a road accident where he was charged with drunk driving. But true to his nature, there were no cover-ups or excuses. He admitted his mistake, settled the damages, apologized sincerely, took the hefty fine imposed by Sri Lanka Cricket on the chin, and moved on. That solitary misstep aside, his career remained untarnished.
At 36, Dimuth wasn’t the oldest player in the team, but he was wise beyond his years. He had a pragmatic mind, always thinking ahead. When the last World Test Championship (WTC) cycle ended, he voluntarily stepped down as captain, arguing that a new cycle should start with a fresh leader rather than switching captains midway. That kind of selflessness is rare – not just in cricket, but in any sphere of life, where the instinct is often to cling to power. Dimuth, however, was cut from a different cloth.
And now, at the end of this WTC cycle, he has walked away once more – this time from the game itself. True, the runs had started to dry up, and he was no longer the formidable force he once was at the top of the order. The temptation to push on a little longer must have been there, but with Lahiru Udara stacking up runs in domestic cricket and Oshada Fernando waiting in the wings, Dimuth knew his time was up. Cricket has a way of scripting poetic endings, and as he played his last innings in Galle, Udara fittingly notched up a double hundred for NCC in a First-Class game at Moratuwa – a clear sign that the baton had been passed.
Dimuth’s greatest contribution to Sri Lankan cricket wasn’t just his runs, but the way he led the team. He may not have had the fire of Arjuna Ranatunga, the tactical genius of Mahela Jayawardene, or the sheer aggression of Sanath Jayasuriya, but in his own understated manner, he got the best out of his players. He was the glue that held things together, especially during turbulent times.
His crowning achievement remains the historic series win in South Africa in 2019, when Sri Lanka became the first Asian team to conquer the Proteas in their own backyard. He took over a fractured team at a time when deep divisions existed between the selectors and team management. Yet, with his calm demeanour and leadership, he managed to unite everyone under a common goal. That was the essence of Dimuth – never flamboyant, never flashy, but always effective.
So respected was he that, despite not playing an ODI for over four years, the selectors handed him the captaincy for the 2019 Cricket World Cup in England – a testament to the regard in which he was held.
A batsman known for his long vigils at the crease, Dimuth played one of Sri Lanka’s most memorable Test innings – a brilliant 196 in Dubai – that helped his team end Pakistan’s unbeaten run in the UAE. Since 2009, the Gulf had been Pakistan’s fortress, an impregnable stronghold where visiting teams perished. But Dimuth, with his patience and precision, orchestrated an unforgettable victory that shattered Pakistan’s aura of invincibility.
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It is unfortunate that towards the twilight of his career, his Test average dipped below 40. He needed a century in his final match to push it back over the mark, but fate had other plans. Some might argue that he didn’t quite do justice to his immense potential, but cricket isn’t just about numbers. It’s about the way you play the game, the impact you leave, and the legacy you build.
Dimuth Karunaratne will be missed – not just for his runs, but for the dignity, grace, and humility with which he carried himself.
