‘People’s Player of the Year’ Dilshan, now an entertainer, heart-throb of the people
Walking away with the annual prestigious ‘People’s Player of the Year’ award driven by Sri Lanka Cricket and Dialog recently was indeed a lofty decoration of the retired colorful Sri Lankan cricketer Tillakaratne Dilshan.
A personality carrying a colourful heartthrob charm by his glamour outlook fine edged by groovy plated head of hair and conspicuous earrings, and equally matched by acrobatic fielding close to the bat to go with a razor edge batting flair underlined by his invention of the now famous over the wicket-keeper’s head ‘Dilscoop’ stroke, indeed the burly looking Dilshan was a character who won the hearts of his countrymen. Perhaps his marriage to the lovely tele-drama actress Manjula Thilini further propelled the gutsy all-rounder, who also proved to be an useful stock bowler for Sri Lanka, in winning the admiration of a strong home fan base. It is therefore, pertinent going in to the rudiments that swept the retired cricketer in the mellowed age of 40 years to the coveted ’People’s Player of the Year’ award in a three-pronged contest the he outpolled the longtime people’s favourite Kumar Sangakkara for his endowing iconic record breaking feats on the international stage, as well as the equally popular Angelo Mathews who had galloped to the envious national captaincy in a not too long odyssey from a rookie youngster who broke in to the ODI team in 2008.
That Tillakaratne Dilshan. emerged in that three-cornered cutting edge glitter poll to oust his two formidable rivals was certainly an out of the blues announcement to a packed house; a type of stunning result that even Dilshan himself admitted he was surprised to win, but in the same breath acknowledged his countrymen for their great esteem for what he had achieved and done for Sri Lanka. The over 14,000 votes over his nearest rival Kumar Sangakkara in unseating the icon who had hogged that award previously was an unanimous peoples assertion of a deserving farewell send off in recognition of a 17-year long international career. If his batting bordered on the devilish right upfront not hesitating to punish the best of bowlers in his own liking that stood out the right hander as a powerful campaigner for his country, his amazing fielding scooping down like an eagle to snatch the nastiest of close in catches or effect a breathtaking direct hit run out was certainly entertaining stuff that galvanizes the spectator into heroic admiration. It was this fan base full of adore for his match winning all-round feats that made Dilshan an instant hit among his home fans. Therein, it is significant touching on the fan pulse where players are admired differently for their virtues. Dilshan was evidently a performer who stood out in the bracket for colour, flair and personality alike. If his fielding saved crucial runs in swaying a match, the element in his batting was the whirlwind. There were times he caned bowlers over and in to the ropes at the start of an over when he took first strike as an opener. The difference he made was his contrasting flair. He would at times build up an innings in the subdued before taking an attack apart. His highest of 193 individual Test score and ODI 161 are an illustration of the largely belligerent batsman Dilshan was that was his crowd pulling forte. He is another of suburban talent hailing from Kalutara who flaunted his cricket from Kalutara Vidyalaya to scaling the city metropolis in emerging to top flight stuff to winning the admiration of the cricketing universe.
His post-retirement life that has seen the former cricketer enter the field of entertainment in an apparent penchant for song making and turning a lyrist by the recent release of the video song, ‘Hena Sansaraye’ together with his wife Manjula recently is bound to further thrust Tillakaratne Dilshan., the cricketer in to the limelight as a likable personality among the local public.
By Srian Obeyesekere
-The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Sri Lanka Cricket-
