GALLE, Sri Lanka — Niroshan Dickwella’s lively exchange with Yashasvi Jaiswal added an entertaining subplot to the final stages of Sri Lanka’s first Test against India, but the wicketkeeper-batter was dismissed by Prasidh Krishna only moments after the conversation. India eventually completed a 165-run victory after bowling Sri Lanka out for 206 while chasing 372.
- Dickwella was dismissed for 12 from 17 balls during Sri Lanka’s fourth-innings chase.
- Jaiswal attempted to persuade Dickwella to attack Prasidh Krishna’s short-pitched bowling.
- Dickwella joked that he would do so if Jaiswal could take him to the IPL.
- India’s players celebrated with Jaiswal after Dickwella’s dismissal despite Jaiswal having no direct role in the catch.
Dickwella and Jaiswal exchange words in Galle
The incident occurred during the 60th over of Sri Lanka’s chase. Krishna was repeatedly bowling short deliveries at Dickwella, who had already shown considerable restraint compared with his first-innings 80.
Jaiswal walked in from square leg and tried to encourage the Sri Lankan batter to attack the short ball. He pointed towards the Galle Municipality Stand and challenged Dickwella to hit the ball into the stands.
Dickwella initially responded briefly before making it clear that the hook was not a shot he regularly played. The conversation then took a playful turn when the Sri Lankan suggested he would attempt it if Jaiswal could help him get to the IPL.
Jaiswal responded that he would “100%” take him, according to the supplied match report. The exchange continued as Dickwella played the next delivery towards deep point for two runs.
Jaiswal brings Sangakkara into the conversation
Jaiswal then raised the stakes by telling Dickwella that if he hit Krishna into the stand, he would speak to Kumar Sangakkara. Sangakkara is associated with Rajasthan Royals, the IPL franchise for which Jaiswal plays.
The reference had an additional connection because Dickwella and Sangakkara have a long history in Sri Lankan cricket. The two played together in Sri Lanka’s Test side towards the end of Sangakkara’s international career and both attended Trinity College in Kandy.
Dickwella did not take the bait by attempting the hook shot. Krishna continued to bowl short, but the Sri Lankan instead tried to cut one delivery that came close to his body.
Dickwella falls two balls later
The shot produced the mistake India were waiting for. Dickwella backed away towards the leg side while attempting the cut and edged the ball behind, where Rishabh Pant completed the catch.
Dickwella was out for 12 from 17 deliveries, with Sri Lanka still needing to survive more than two overs to reach the lunch interval and keep their hopes of securing a draw alive.
The dismissal was particularly popular among the Indian players. Although Jaiswal had not taken the catch or bowled the delivery, Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Suthar, Pant and others congratulated him during the celebration.
The reaction suggested India’s players believed Jaiswal’s verbal exchange had contributed to creating the moment, even though Dickwella was ultimately dismissed by Krishna’s bowling and Pant’s catch.
The wicket exposes Sri Lanka’s lower order
Dickwella’s departure left Sri Lanka’s tail exposed at a crucial point in the chase. Keshara Nuwantha had to come to the crease shortly before lunch as the hosts attempted to prolong the Test.
There was little room for error for Sri Lanka. India had set a target of 372, and the visitors needed only a handful of wickets to complete the victory.
Once the resistance broke, Sri Lanka were unable to stay in the contest. They were eventually dismissed for 206 shortly after the lunch break, 165 runs short of the target.
Dickwella’s reputation for on-field chatter
The Galle exchange was consistent with Dickwella’s reputation as one of Sri Lanka’s most talkative cricketers. His conversations with opposition players have previously become part of the story during Test matches.
The supplied report recalls an earlier incident from 2016, when Sri Lanka were attempting to save a Test against India in Kolkata. Dickwella was involved in extended conversations with India’s players during the match.
On that occasion, one of his Sri Lankan team-mates reportedly asked him to reduce the amount of chatter. Dickwella’s response was that he was helping the opposition waste their own time.
The Galle exchange was considerably lighter in tone. It involved cricketing advice, an IPL joke and a reference to Sangakkara before Dickwella’s innings ended only moments later.
A memorable moment in India’s Galle victory
India’s 165-run win was ultimately decided by their bowling attack, with Manav Suthar taking 10 wickets in the match. But the Dickwella-Jaiswal exchange provided one of the more memorable moments from the final stages of the Test.
Jaiswal’s attempt to persuade Dickwella to attack Krishna’s short bowling did not produce the hook shot he wanted. Instead, Dickwella attempted a cut and edged behind, allowing Pant to complete the dismissal.
India’s celebration made clear how much they enjoyed the moment, while Dickwella’s IPL quip added another entertaining chapter to his long-standing reputation for lively on-field interactions.
Source attribution: Article based exclusively on the supplied match report and information provided in the source material.
Praveen Yadav is the Founder and Content Creator of The Nation Bulletin, an independent digital news platform focused on delivering timely, reliable and meaningful news from India and around the world.
