Sri Lanka's Niroshan Dickwella set to return from the wilderness for first India Test

Eyebrows were raised when Dickwella was named in Sri Lanka's squad, with 33-year-old having last earned a Test cap against New Zealand in Christchurch in March 2023.

The 33-year-old's recall has come in for fierce criticism with his batting average at 30.97 and having not hit a century in 96 innings in the longest format.

What makes the selection even more puzzling is that both top-scorers in Sri Lanka's domestic four-day are wicketkeepers with  Sadeera Samarawickrama averaging 77 and the uncapped Anjala Bandara averaging 61.

Dhananjaya batted away questions about Dickwella in the pre-match press-conference, saying: "The only thing I have to tell Niroshan Dickwella is to keep well. That's why he's in the team.

"Dickwella had to leave the Test squad over the last few years because Kusal Mendis went to No. 7, and Kusal has played well there in the last few years so Dickwella didn't get a chance to come back.

"But when you play at Galle, the most important thing is that the player with the best glovework plays.

"The decision to recall Dickwella is one we had with the coach and selectors, and they all agreed. We did have the chance to give an opportunity to another player, but as the keeper with the best glovework, Dickwella came through."

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