After a playful exchange with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Niroshan Dickwella dismissed within two balls

In the first Test between India and Sri Lanka, after a humorous exchange between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Niroshan Dickwella, Dickwella was dismissed after just two balls, scoring 12 runs off 17 balls. Chasing a target of 372 runs, Dickwella was caught by Rishabh Pant off the bowling of Prasidh Krishna. Following the dismissal, Indian players congratulated Jaiswal in the huddle, acknowledging the pressure he had exerted on the batsman.

Kathmandu, 20 August – The lively banter between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Niroshan Dickwella during the first Test between India and Sri Lanka ended at the wicket with Dickwella’s dismissal. Jaiswal had teased Dickwella to play a hook shot, and two balls later, Dickwella was dismissed by Prasidh Krishna.

While Sri Lanka was chasing 372 runs, Jaiswal approached Dickwella from the square leg region, teasing him to play a hook shot off a short ball. Despite scoring 80 runs in the first innings, Dickwella was said to have played few aggressive shots, prompting Jaiswal’s playful comment: “Not many shots in the first innings. I need to see some.” Pointing towards the Galle Municipality Stand, Jaiswal added, “Hit there, I want to see something.”

Dickwella replied that the hook shot was not part of his regular game and jokingly said, “If you take me to the IPL, I will do it.” Jaiswal immediately responded, “I will definitely take you 100 percent.” He even mentioned Rajasthan Royals head coach and cricket director Kumar Sangakkara, saying, “If you hit in that stand, I will surely tell Sanga.”

Interestingly, Dickwella and Sangakkara share a long history. Both are alumni of the famous Trinity College in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Sangakkara had played alongside Dickwella towards the end of his career in the Sri Lankan Test team. However, Dickwella did not accept Jaiswal’s challenge to play the hook shot.

After Prasidh Krishna bowled a series of short deliveries, Dickwella attempted a cut shot on the next ball. While moving back to play the ball close to his body, the edge was caught by Rishabh Pant. Dickwella was dismissed for 12 runs off 17 balls. Following his wicket, Indian players, including Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Suthar, and Pant, congratulated Jaiswal in the huddle, crediting him for applying pressure that led to the dismissal.

Though Jaiswal did not have a direct role in the wicket, it was Krishna’s delivery that edged through to Pant. Nevertheless, the playful exchange on the field added an extra layer of entertainment to the dismissal.

Dickwella is known in Sri Lankan cricket for his outspoken nature on the field. He has been noted previously for engaging in banter and conversations with opposing players. In a 2017 Test against India in Kolkata, he had a prolonged exchange with opponents and quipped, after being told to speak less by a teammate, “Don’t worry, I’m wasting their time as well.”