Tillakaratne Dilshan, Inventor of 'Dilscoop' To Retire From ODIs, T20Is After Australia Series
Tillakaratne Dilshan, who made his ODI debut for Sri Lanka in 1999, will retire from international cricket after the end of ODI and T20I series against Australia. The right-handed batsman, famous for the 'Dilscoop', had quit Tests in 2013.
Highlights
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Tillakaratne Dilshan quit Tests in 2013
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Dilshan is famous for innovative strokes in ODIs, T20s
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Dilshan is fourth Sri Lankan to go past 10,000 runs in ODIs
Tillakaratne Dilshan has finally decided to call time on his 17-year international career by officially announcing that the ODI and Twenty20 International series against Australia will be his last as a player.
Dilshan, who made his debut against Zimbabwe in 1999, played 87 Tests, 329 ODIs and 78 T20Is. In 2013, he retired from Tests to prolong his limited-overs career.
His ODI and T2OI record for Sri Lanka is wonderful. Dilshan is the 11th batsman and fourth Sri Lankan to go past 10,000 runs in ODIs while in T20Is, he is only the second Sri Lankan after Mahela Jayawardene to score a hundred. He achieved this feat in 2011 when he smashed 104* against Australia in Pallekele.
The 39-year-old right-hander, well-known for his innovative strokes and particularly the 'Dilscoop', has been in magnificent form in ODIs after retiring from Tests.
.@OfficialSLC's Tillakaratne Dilshan is set to retire from internationals, thanks for the memories & the 'Dilscoop'https://t.co/Cmn6IgKwoJ
- Lord's Ground (@HomeOfCricket) August 25, 2016
In 2014, he smashed 990 runs in 25 games at an average of 41.25. Dilshan enjoyed his best year in 2015 when he amassed 1,207 runs in 25 games at an average of 52.47. He smashed four centuries, including his highest of 161* in the World Cup clash against Bangladesh in Melbourne.
His team-mates, Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, tweeted about Dilshan's contributions
Dilshan is an absolute match winner and game changer. Deserves the grandest of farewells. @OfficialSLC will miss him. A champions career
- Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) August 25, 2016
Wonderful servant for SL cricket. Naturally gifted player. Was absolute pleasure playing with him. Wish @TmDilshan_23 all the best. ?? enjoy!
- Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay) August 25, 2016
SLC decided to dedicate the 3rd ODI to honour the master batsman Dilshan for his invaluable contribution to motherland #ThankYouDilshan
- Sri Lanka Cricket (@OfficialSLC) August 25, 2016
Sri Lanka are currently tied 1-1 in the ODIs against Australia with three matches still to play. The fifth and final ODI will be in Dambulla on September 4 while the two T20Is will be on Septmber 6 and September 9.