Sonal Dinusha was sublime against India. Image Credits: AP
It was only after his third century in his fourth attempt that Sonal Dinusha revealed he also has a bright, beaming smile and knows how to celebrate a milestone with exuberance. He had already scored two centuries earlier in the series, including his maiden Test hundred, but even then, he had kept his emotions in check. Given the calmness that surrounds him, one could be forgiven for thinking he has played far more than his current five Tests.
That calmness extends beyond his nature to his batting and the way he goes about it. At no stage in the series did Dinusha look hurried or uncontrolled at the crease. That was despite being tasked with much of the tough work, from arresting collapses to building substantial partnerships with the tailenders.
Sonal Dinusha’s methods
Sonal Dinusha's sweep shots distribution vs Indian spinners
Sonal Dinusha was adept at almost everything in the series, but his sweeps became a recurring theme. He swept more with each passing game, doing so with greater control and consistency than any other batter. The southpaw played 42.10% of the series’ sweep shots and scored 40.13% of the total runs through this stroke.
Dinusha scored 48.45% of his runs against spin through sweeps, striking at 144.16 without being dismissed. He found a boundary every 6.66 deliveries and played dot balls on just 20% of the deliveries he faced.
Ravindra Jadeja is among the toughest spinners to sweep, given his flatter trajectory and ability to bowl stump-to-stump at high speeds. Not for Dinusha.
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In Sri Lanka’s first innings in Colombo, Jadeja bowled slightly fuller, prompting Dinusha to crouch low and sweep over midwicket. Two deliveries later, he used a slow sweep to target the same region. In the second innings, he repeatedly reverse-swept identical lengths and lines, forcing India to station a deep third man permanently on the final day.
Noticeably, Dinusha was also smart enough not to rely as heavily on conventional sweeps against Manav Suthar, who naturally extracts extra bounce by imparting substantial overspin. Instead, he turned more frequently to the reverse sweep, playing it late to get on top of the bounce and keep the ball down. Whether it was the eighth ball in the first innings or the 247th on the final day, he stuck to the same process, barely deviating from his methods.
Against Saransh Jain, in contrast, he unleashed more conventional sweeps than against any other spinner. Saransh often missed his mark, and his shorter lengths made the shot easier to execute around chest height. The ball sat nicely on the willow, allowing Dinusha to roll his wrists through the stroke with ease.
Following the process has often become a cliché in cricket. Dinusha, though, made the cliché look almost tangible. His success came from a repeatable method that eventually wore down the spinners.
The control on sweep shots
Sonal Dinusha vs other batters vs spin on lengths between 3 and 5 metres
What was more impressive was Dinusha’s control over a shot that is naturally prone to producing false shots against spin. He played just 18.33% false shots while sweeping, compared to 27.87% by all other batters combined in the series. Over such a large sample, that level of control underlined just how precise he was with his shot selection.
His adept use of the sweep did more than score runs; it neutralised the good-length threat and turned it into one of his biggest strengths. Against spin on lengths between three and five metres, Dinusha averaged 91 and was dismissed only twice, despite facing more deliveries than any other batter. He played false shots on just 19.70% of those deliveries, while the rest stood at 23.18%.
Sweeps accounted for 61.53% of Dinusha’s runs from good-length deliveries, compared to just 26.37% for all other batters combined. He also played far fewer dot balls - 15.06% against 28.45% for the others - constantly keeping himself occupied and refusing to let pressure build.
More impressive was his control when sweeping good-length deliveries. Dinusha played just 15.06% false shots without being dismissed on the stroke, compared to 25.20% by all other batters.
It was not merely a marginal difference; at times, it seemed as though he could pick the sweep up and execute it almost at will. In doing so, he repeatedly neutralised the very length that was supposed to trouble him most.
In Galle, India initially set a slip and short third man for Kuldeep Yadav, with the spinner operating on the off-stump line. On the first ball, Kuldeep landed one on the fuller side of good length, and Dinusha bisected the two fielders with a pinpoint reverse sweep. The next was slightly shorter, and he swept it towards square leg for two more.
The southpaw went on to sweep the next two deliveries as well. Had he not taken a single off the fourth ball, there was every chance he would have swept his way through the entire over. Shubman Gill responded by taking Kuldeep out of the attack, despite it being only his second over of the spell.
Dinusha was almost predictable in his methods, yet India found themselves powerless to counter them. As the series progressed, India were increasingly forced to station deep square leg and third man fielders. Instead of trying to dismiss him, they had to concede easy runs due to his unflinching control.
Dinusha could be a handy addition to Sri Lanka’s lower order
Batters via sweep shots vs spin in SL vs IND series
Sonal Dinusha has been mighty impressive from the very beginning of his Test career. Before the India series, he made useful contributions in the West Indies, including a composed 92. Earlier in that same series, he bowled 56 overs in an innings after Lahiru Kumara crumbled early, showing that his value extended well beyond his batting.
After five Tests, Dinusha averages 86.57 and has three centuries. He is not the first Sri Lankan to make such a flying start to his Test career; Kamindu Mendis was a similar case. What makes Dinusha particularly compelling, though, is his batting intelligence and understanding of his own strengths, both of which were on full display against India. There was a reason he could repeatedly build substantial partnerships with the tailenders.
When Saransh Jain switched to over the wicket in the final session on Day 4, Dinusha immediately adjusted his guard towards middle and leg. It gave him greater access to clear his front leg and sweep with an unobstructed bat swing. When the off-spinner came around the wicket, Dinusha moved closer to off stump and took a large stride forward in defence, keeping the point of impact outside off and taking LBW out of the equation.
Those are encouraging signs for a batter so early in his career. Sri Lanka need someone like Dinusha in the lower order, particularly with a vulnerable batting unit that could use the cushion he provides. Dunith Wellalage hasn’t been trusted enough in Tests, while Kamindu Mendis’ promotion up the order has opened a vacancy at No.7 or below.
In overseas conditions, where Sri Lanka are likely to favour an extra pace-bowling option, Dinusha could fill the role of a spin-bowling all-rounder with considerable value. His bowling still needs significant improvement, but he could offer control from one end, particularly on days when the spinners’ primary task is to keep the runs in check. More importantly, his batting can give Sri Lanka’s lower order the security and cushion it currently lacks.
There will, of course, be challenges as Dinusha encounters more varied conditions. His game against pace remains largely untested on surfaces that offer substantial assistance to fast bowlers. Those questions will only be answered with greater exposure.
For now, though, Dinusha has shown that he belongs at this level. He has done so not through flashes of brilliance, but through immense consistency, sharp awareness and meticulous control over his methods.
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