India head coach Gautam Gambhir on Friday gave a special shoutout to Sri Lanka’s breakout batter Sonal Dinusha for his exceptional, match-saving performance for the hosts in the recent second Test at the SSC Ground in Colombo.
Despite missing out on full World Test Championship (WTC) points in the final game, India clinched the two-match series 1-0, having won the opening fixture at Galle by 165 runs. Dinusha also became the eighth Sri Lanka batter to score centuries in both innings of a Test after Aravinda de Silva (twice), Kumar Sangakkara (twice), Duleep Mendis, Asanka Gurusinha, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis. He’s also the eighth batter to register three centuries in a two-game Test series, the joint-most for any men’s batter and just the third for Sri Lanka after de Silva (twice) and Sangakkara.
The left-handed Dinusha single-handedly thwarted India’s victory push in the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), which ended in a draw on Thursday.
Dinusha’s Record-Breaking Performance in Test Series
Dinusha delivered an outstanding performance in the recent Test series, amassing a remarkable total of 420 runs over four innings. His batting prowess was highlighted by three centuries, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure.
In the opening Test at Galle International Stadium, Dinusha scored 100 and 84 while batting at number six. He continued his impressive form in Colombo, contributing 103 runs in Sri Lanka’s first innings. This series has marked a significant achievement in his career, establishing him as a key player for the team.
Gambhir also praised his own side’s character and mental toughness following the 1-0 series win. “Test cricket needs character, patience and mental toughness that’s shown by our boys! Special shoutout to Sonal Dinusha for his exceptional performance! With that gritty batting performance, Dinusha became the fifth cricketer and the fourth from Sri Lanka to register twin hundreds in a Test match while coming out to bat at number six or lower than that.
Gambhir posted on his ‘X’ account on Friday.
