Sri Lanka’s wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella while opening up on his antics in the final session of the first Test against India in Kolkata, told Cricbuzz that some of those frolics were intentional and were done in a bid to kill time.
India had little over a session to bowl Sri Lanka out to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Just as the hosts fancied their chances when they reduced the opposition to 22 for 4, they found Dickwella to be a thorn in the flesh.
“How it all started was, I hit a six over square leg. There were three fielders behind square on the leg side and I brought that to the notice of the umpire Nigel Llong. A no-ball was called and then Virat Kohli came towards me and told me that that’s the umpires’ job and you don’t worry. That’s how it all started,” Dickwella revealed.
“I thought, hang on, this is a good opportunity to get into an argument and kill some time. Kohli quickly realized what my intentions were and started walking back. Then the Mohammed Shami thing happened. It was funny I thought, I would like to think that I won that battle,” the left-hander added.
A few moments later, Shami and Dickwella came face to face after the batsman held up the bowler at the start of his run-up. “Shami came up to me and said, ‘Look here, I am the local boy. I am from Kolkata.’ Then I said, ‘I don’t give a damn.’ A few seconds later, I said, ‘But you are bowling with good pace and bounce.’ Perhaps he was happy with the complement and started walking back.
“I was taking my time while I was batting and Shami was rushing to bowl and that didn’t go down too well with the Indians. I was so happy to be in that situation. The captain was on the other side and was guiding me asking me to be calm and play the normal game and they will get frustrated,” the 24-year-old added further.
While former greats praised Dickwella’s antics, captain Dinesh Chandimal appreciated his presence of mind to spot the three fielders behind square.
“I don’t want anyone to dominate while I am batting or while I am on the field. I want to dominate the game. Virat Kohli is one of the best batsmen in the world and that’s the kind of mentality he has as well. That’s why all this drama happened,” Dickwella noted.
Dickwella though has already been cautioned by match referees on a couple of occasions this year and was also suspended for a T20I in Australia. If he is slapped with one more demerit point, he could end up with a four-match suspension.
“That is in my mind,” Dickwella said with a cheeky smile. “But I didn’t overstep the line in Kolkata.
“I always enjoy the battle out in the middle. I like to be involved and get under the opposition’s skin even when I am keeping wickets I try to do that. I always look to put the pressure back on the opposition. That was a good chance to kill some time as well. I guess they lost about two or three overs,” he mentioned.
“I don’t want to go on the backfoot anytime. Even in a fight, if you are being attacked by someone, if you take a backfoot, there’s a good chance you will lose the fight. Similarly, if they attack me, I will hit back.”
Amidst all the drama though, the scoop shot he attempted off Shami that flew over the boundary was forgotten. “I enjoy all these unconventional shots. I enjoy the Dil-scoop, the dab over third man, paddle sweep and ramp shots. These things I train at the nets. I knew there were three fielders behind square on the leg side and I knew the rule. I thought that he was going to bounce me. I wanted to scoop that over fine leg, but he pitched it up for me. Had he bounced, that shot would have gone over fine leg or over the wicketkeeper’s head.
“The three fast bowlers they had in the first Test were world-class. Rather than surviving, I thought attack is the best form of defense. It was a fast bowlers’ paradise and on top of it, there had been lot of rain and the wickets had been under covers. It was tough batting out there,” concluded Dickwella.
