Sri Lanka Test captain Dhananjaya de Silva has explained the decision to bring wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella back into the squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against India, citing his superior glovework after Kusal Mendis was ruled out through injury.

Sri Lanka Test Captain Dhananjaya de Silva has justified the recall of wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella to the squad for the forthcoming India Test series, which commences tomorrow at Galle. According to de Silva, the inclusion became necessary following an injury that has sidelined Kusal Mendis from the series.

Dickwella had initially been overlooked when Mendis was selected as the designated keeper at No. 7 in the batting order. However, with Mendis now unavailable, the selectors have turned back to Dickwella. De Silva told reporters that the decision was reached collaboratively between the captain, coaching staff, and selection committee, with particular consideration given to the demands of playing at Galle.

The captain emphasised that wicketkeeping proficiency was a crucial factor in the decision-making process. De Silva stated that Dickwella emerged as a leading candidate when the team evaluated glovework capabilities, suggesting that his keeping skills made him the preferred option for the challenging conditions expected at the historic Galle venue.

The two-match Test series will see Sri Lanka face India at Galle from tomorrow, with the second Test scheduled for August 23 in Colombo.