Dinesh Chandimal has remained in the shadows of others for a very long time. Despite playing more than 69 Tests and 154 ODIs, the right-handed batter rarely received the recognition that he deserved.
Currently, however, the Sri Lankan player is appreciated and praised by all on the back of his sensational form this year. In 2022, he has produced knocks like 66, 39*, 124, 206*, 76 and 94*. In eight innings Chandimal has scored 618 runs at an average of 123 including one double century, two centuries and three fifties.
Despite playing for close to 15 years, this is Chandimal’s best stretch of form in his career. He was the top scorer in the recently concluded Sri Lanka Australia series and is on the top in the ongoing Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Test series as well. In the ongoing Test, Chandimal scored 76 in the first innings and 94 in the second.
Talking of the game, Sri Lanka produced 222 runs in the first innings on the back of Chandimal’s 74 and Oshada Fernando’s 35. Pakistan could not come up with a good reply losing all their wickets cheaply. It was the Pakistan captain Babar Azam who snapped back the lead with a gritty 119 off of 244.
The home team, still ahead at this point, increased the lead further in the second innings. Opener Fernando again came up with an important inning of 64 off of 125 to give a good start to Sri Lanka. The wicket-keeper batter Kushal Mendis also came to the party with his 76 off of 126 balls to open the gap with Pakistan. Other batters however could not show similar quality against Pakistan bowlers until Dinesh Chandimal walked in.
The right-hand batter has been in sensational form as of late and showed his great quality in the second innings as well. Coming on to bat at 164-4, the Balapitiya-born player remained not out at the other end batting just shy of a third Test century this year. Thus, he remained unbeaten on 94.
Let’s look at some tweets celebrating the great form of Dinesh Chandimal
Chandimal on Galle dust bowl >>>> Bairstow on English roads
But but Bairstow is generational talent, he's in same league as Sachin, Lara, Cook blah blah blah
Why are we not hyping Chandimal's efforts even half of what English media did???
— Vishal Gourav (@vishu_chiku) July 18, 2022
Dinesh Chandimal in the last 3 innings in Test cricket:
206*(326) vs Australia.
76(115) vs Pakistan.
94*(139) vs Pakistan.The go-to man for Sri Lanka in Tests in 2022. pic.twitter.com/vPyoaHi2b1
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 19, 2022
Usman Khawaja on Dinesh Chandimal’s double-century at Galle:
“He batted like an absolute genius… one of the best innings I’ve seen in Test match cricket.”#SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/tvaLHzbxV4
— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) July 17, 2022
Chandimal’s Test career deserves more recognition than it gets.
— Rehan Ulhaq (@Rehan_ulhaq) July 18, 2022
Dinesh Chandimal has spent more time with the SL Tailenders than he has spent with his family over the last couple of weeks #dineshchandimal #SLvPAK
— Ravihansa Wijesinghe (@Ravihansa_Wije) July 18, 2022
Dinesh Chandimal in his last five Tests: 66, 39*, 124, 0, 13, 206*, 76, 51*
— Andrew Fidel Fernando (@afidelf) July 18, 2022
Form of his life!
Dinesh Chandimal on his form is a treat to watch ???? pic.twitter.com/qLS7aHjEgd
— Azzam Ameen (@AzzamAmeen) July 19, 2022
Chandimal has drawn inspiration from Babar Azam, in fact upstaged him, with a great knock in the second innings to not just pull Sri Lanka out of hot waters but take his team to a position of strength. Daunting to chase 300 plus in the last innings against Lanka spinners
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) July 18, 2022
Dinesh Chandimal in this year 2022 in Test cricket:-
66(148).
39*(135).
124(219).
0(1).
13(21).
206*(326).
76(115).
94*(139).8 innings, 618 runs, 123.60 average, 2 hundreds, 3 fifties. pic.twitter.com/SWZStkoNbX
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) July 19, 2022
Really enjoying this development where Dinesh Chandimal is basically prime AB de Villiers now. #SLvPAK
— Chris De Silva (@cdesilva23) July 18, 2022
What's got into Chandimal lately? ?
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) July 18, 2022
Dinesh Chandimal touching rarefied zones these days.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) July 18, 2022
