Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Glovework takes priority at Galle, captain defends Dickwella recall
The captain of Sri Lanka's cricket team, Dhananjaya de Silva, talked to reporters before an important test match against India.
He explained why he chose Niroshan Dickwella to be the wicketkeeper again.
A wicketkeeper is the player who catches the ball and tries to get batters out.
Some people were not happy with this choice and thought other players should have been picked instead.
The captain said Dickwella was chosen because he is the best of all the available players at keeping the ball.
He said the pitch at Galle is very tricky, so good wicketkeeping matters more than anything else there.
The captain also spoke about a very fast bowler named Lahiru Kumara.
Kumara has been injured many times, but the captain says no one else in the team can take his place.
He hopes Kumara will use his last injury as motivation to do something great in the series.
Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva defended recalling wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella for the first Test against India, citing his superior glovework.
De Silva said the tricky nature of the pitch at Galle International Cricket Stadium makes glovework the primary prerequisite for wicketkeeper selection.
Critics questioned why in-form domestic players Sadeera Samarawickrama and uncapped Anjala Bandara were overlooked while Kusal Mendis is injured.
De Silva said the recall decision was made together with the coach and selectors, who all agreed Dickwella has the best glovework among available keepers.
De Silva also backed fast bowler Lahiru Kumara, saying no other Sri Lankan bowler can replace the team's fastest red-ball bowler despite repeated fitness setbacks.
- Who
- Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva and recalled wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella
- What
- De Silva defended Dickwella's recall for the first Test against India, saying his superior glovework made him the right choice for Galle's tricky pitch
- When
- Ahead of the upcoming first Test against India (exact dates not stated in the article)
- Where
- Galle International Cricket Stadium, Galle, Sri Lanka
- Why
- The tricky Galle pitch makes glovework the main selection priority, and the captain, coach and selectors all agreed Dickwella has the best glovework
Critics
Captain and Selectors
Dickwella's recall
Critics
Critics question why in-form domestic performers like Sadeera Samarawickrama and uncapped Anjala Bandara were overlooked while Kusal Mendis is injured, noting Dickwella averages just 31 with the bat in Tests.
Captain and Selectors
De Silva says the player with the best glovework must play at Galle due to the tricky pitch, and Dickwella is the best gloveman available - a decision the coach and selectors all agreed with.
Lahiru Kumara's place in the squad
Critics
Kumara's career has been repeatedly disrupted by fitness breakdowns, most recently a hamstring injury during the West Indies tour in June that contributed to a 1-0 series defeat.
Captain and Selectors
De Silva says no current Sri Lankan bowler can replace Kumara, who is the country's fastest red-ball bowler, and hopes the injury will motivate him to do something big in the series.
- Event
- First Test match, Sri Lanka vs India
- Venue
- Galle International Cricket Stadium
- Captain / Speaker
- Dhananjaya de Silva
- Recalled player
- Niroshan Dickwella (wicketkeeper-batter)
- Dickwella Test batting average
- 31 after 96 Test innings
- Injured player
- Kusal Mendis
- Overlooked candidates
- Sadeera Samarawickrama, Anjala Bandara
- Lahiru Kumara
- Fastest Sri Lankan red-ball bowler; suffered hamstring injury on West Indies tour in June; Sri Lanka lost that series 1-0