Colombo: Left-handers have often been the scourge of Indian bowlers, especially when they are pressing for advantage or victory. From West Indies’ Jimmy Adams, who was famously referred to as Jimmy “Padams” for using his pads to counter spin attacks, to the attacking Sanath Jayasuriya, who averaged 67 against India as opposed career average of 40.1, they have struggled to find a way through them.
The fact that the likes of Matthew Hayden, Saeed Anwar and Alastair Cook, among others, don’t even figure in the list (see the table) here shows an inherent issue in coming up with answers to left-handed batters.
While it’s also true that some of the game’s bonafide greats — including Brian Lara, Kumar Sangakkara, Adam Gilchrist — failed to produce their best against India, the high number of southpaws that have troubled them is significantly more.
Joining that long list was Sri Lanka’s Sonal Dinusha, who was comfortably the best batter in the hosts’ line-up. All of three Tests coming into this series with just one half-century to show from his previous five innings, the left-hander added two hundreds and as many fifties to show why he is rated so high in the Lankan cricket circles.
The presence of two left-arm spinners in India’s attack may have also played its part, but against a batting line-up, in which majority have failed to test the Indian bowlers, Dinusha has been exceptionally good.
Brought up on spin tracks, the 25-year-old’s comfort against the tweakers is obvious. He sweeps, reverse sweeps, steps out to either play aerially or smother the spin and is at equal ease to rock back and cut or defend. With the ball going soft as it gets old, spinners have often been rendered a lot less threatening while the pitches haven’t been rank-turners. That in no way takes the shine away from the youngster’s effort.
“I think Sonal has been a thorn in the flesh (for India),” said India’s spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule, acknowledging the Lankan’s impact. “He is a fabulous player. He plays spin really well. He understands the conditions. He understands the pitch in Sri Lanka.”
“He has taken the brave route at times, going aerial and also rotating the strike. I think it was a very good effort. All innings, this innings, has been very special,” he added.
Dinusha was obviously pleased with his second hundred in as many matches.
“I have been working hard on my game and I feel really happy. Generally, I sweep the ball well. So when the opportunity was there, I tried to score some runs. Hopefully, I can contribute to the team’s score tomorrow as well.”
As Bahutule pointed out, Dinusha has been India’s nemesis in the series, and dismissing him early in the day will be key to their hopes of a 2-0 series sweep.