Dinesh Chandimal:  12 interesting things to know about the talented Sri Lankan batsman

Born November 18, 1989, Lokuge Dinesh Chandimal is a Sri Lankan cricketer, who is known for his aggressive batting style. A wicket-keeper batsman, Chandimal is among the most promising young palyers from Sri Lanka. He is technically a sound player and has the ability to score big. With a willow in hand, he can accelerate the innings from virtually any situation. On his birthday, Abhishek Kumar presents 12 facts about him.

1. Tragic childhood

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When Chandimal was 14-years old, he lost his father and home to the brutal Tsunami. A humble person, he often visits Galle, the place where lot of emotions of his childhood are connected.

2. Inspiration

In his early days, Chandimal used to follow Romesh Kaluwitharana for his aggressive style of batting as well as keeping skills.

3. Favourite food and past-time

Chandimal loves to eat fried dry anchovy sprats, fish, steamed jack fruit and coconut sambal. He also loves to listen to music, watch movies and play computer games in his spare time.

4. Before cricket

Prior to becoming an international cricketer, Chandimal used to work for Dimo Lanka Ltd.

5. Invited by Kumar Sangakkara

During his school days, he was famous for his batting and was invited by former captain of Sri Lanka — Kumar Sangakkara to play for Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC).

6. Impressive Test debut

It was quite difficult for Chandimal to cement a place in the Sri Lankan team, as there were already two wicket-keepers in the set-up including Kumar Sangakkara and Prasanna Jayawardene. But Chandimal crossed all these hurdles and made his debut in Tests for Sri Lanka in December 2011 against South Africa in Durban. In both the innings, he scored half-centuries and played a handy role in sealing victory for his team for the first time in Tests against South Africa on their home soil. Not only this, he also became the first Sri Lankan to score two fifties on his Test debut.

7. Captaincy at an early age

In the year 2013, at a young age of 23, he was appointed the Captain of the Sri Lanka Twenty20 (T20) team and Vice-Captain in One-Day Internationals (ODIs). He became the youngest Sri Lankan to be appointed as captain.

Before becoming an international captain, Chandimal had already experienced captaincy, first as Under-17 captain of Ananda College in Colombo and then for his School’s first XI, which he led with 13 outright wins in the season. He scored 1,580 runs and became the first schoolboy cricketer to exceed 1000 run mark and was also awarded with Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Award in 2009. Later, he became the Vice-Captain of the Under-19 side of Sri Lanka.

8. Part of Sri Lanka’s T20 Champion team in 2014

Chandimal was the key member in 2014 T20 World Cup and led the side in group matches but due to injury, he had to step down and his teammate Lasith Malinga took the charge. It can be said that under Malinga Sri Lanka won their first T20 World Cup but one should not forget the start provided by Chandimal as the skipper for the first half of the tournament.

9. Youngest Sri Lankan to score an ODI century

He made his ODI debut in June 2010 against Zimbabwe and scored 10 not out to provide victory for his team and in the very next match against India, he scored his first century. Chasing 269, Chandimal was the only player who was able to play the Indian bowlers quite easily and scored 111 in 118 balls with six fours and five sixes. With this hundred, he became the youngest Sri Lankan to score an ODI hundred.

10. Second fastest 50 by a Sri Lankan in World Cup

In the 2015 World Cup group match against Australia, Chandimal would have won the match for his team, if he wasn’t retired hurt because of hamstring injury. Chasing a humungous total of 377, Chandimal played a blazing cameo of 52 from just 24 balls with eight fours and one six. Though Sri Lanka lost the match, Chandimal scored the second fastest 50 by a Sri Lankan in World Cup.

11. Is he or isn’t he run out?

In the must win match for Sri Lanka in 2011-12 Commonwealth Bank series, Chandimal played a crucial knock in building a respectable total. During his innings, on the first ball of the 35th over, his partner Lahiru Thirimanne cut the ball hard towards the point boundary and Ben Hilfenhaus made a sliding save. However as he threw the ball back into play, Chandimal attempted the third run and was run out by a long long way. But he got a life line. It was a relay throw from Hilfenhaus and while he threw it to the fielder at point, his foot touched the boundary rope.

12. His love life

After the 2015 World Cup, Chandimal got married to his long-time girlfriend Ishika Jayasekara on May 1, 2015 at The Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo.

Now Mr and Mrs #happy #together #newlifebegan

A photo posted by Isika Jayasekara Lokuge (@isijay36) on May 2, 2015 at 6:08am PDT

(Abhishek Kumar is a cricket devotee currently staffing with Criclife.com. He can be followed @abhik2593)