“My ambition is to continue playing ODI and T20 cricket”
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Sri Lanka opener Tillakaratne Dilshan believes that he “can easily play for another 2-3 years”.
Dilshan’s comments come after Sri Lanka survived a major scare during their four-wicket win over Afghanistan in the World Cup.
“My ambition is to continue playing ODI and T20 cricket,” Dilshan said. “After the World Cup I will have to discuss with my captain and the team management what my future role in the team will be. If they think that I have a role to play I will continue to represent my country. With my present form and fitness I guess I can easily play for another 2-3 years, even till the next World Cup in 2019.
“I retired from Test cricket two years ago to give an opportunity to another youngster. I will do the same in the other two formats also if I think I am not good enough to be in the side. I haven’t taken that decision yet because two key players are retiring from ODI cricket and I believe my experience will be valuable to the captain and the team in the two formats. We have problems with openers. If I can help them fill that void using my experience I will quit.”
When asked about his chances of playing in the 2019 World Cup, Dilshan said: “I will be 42 by then and if I can keep my fitness levels with that of the younger players I am capable of playing. Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq is still playing at the age of 40. It is not the age that is important but your contribution to the team.”
Despite being 38 at the moment, Dilshan is still one of the fittest players in the squad and is a major asset to Sri Lanka in the batting, bowling and fielding department.
However, Dilshan revealed that he doesn’t “do any special training” to keep himself in prime shape.
“I don’t do any special training other than what I do with the team,” he said. “When I am not playing cricket for my country I keep myself occupied playing cricket elsewhere.
“I try to be involved either batting, bowling or fielding. I believe it is these habits that have kept me physically fit from injuries other than getting hit by a cricket ball. I like to enjoy life so I don’t restrict myself from what I eat. I eat everything except that I eat them in small quantity.”
Dilshan also noted that he is determined to do everything in his power to help Sri Lanka to World Cup glory so that Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene can retire from ODIs on a high.
“We cannot achieve that if we keep thinking of it,” he said. “We will only put ourselves under a lot of pressure.
“Our first goal is to get to the quarter-finals. If we can go and win the World Cup it will not only be good only for them but for the entire team and Sri Lanka cricket overall. That is how we won the World T20 in Bangladesh last year. Although it was the final appearance in T20 cricket for Mahela and Sanga our focus was not on them but as a team to perform well.
“I have played under Mahela’s captaincy and learnt a lot, the way he speaks to the younger players, the way he gives them words of encouragement when they are struggling for form. Mahela is a great motivator to uplift the spirits of a cricketer when he is down. As a captain the way he conducts himself not only on the field but also off it, the way he dresses, speaks, eating habits, he is a very good example for the younger cricketers to emulate.”
Dilshan also stated that it is hard to compare him to Sangakkara and Jayawardene even though all three have played together for roughly the same amount of time.
“It was from 2009 that I really made progress in my career (when he was promoted to open batting) that was the turning point of my career,” Dilshan said. “Since 2009, I have scored 19 centuries and over 6000 runs in ODI cricket, he said. “Of the 20 ODI centuries I have scored we have won 16 matches and I am proud of that. As captain, I have scored centuries in all three formats a feat which no captain has achieved.”
Dilshan also has his eyes set on scoring 10,000 ODI runs and taking 100 wickets as well.
“If I can get to 10,000 runs during the World Cup that would mean I have to score over 500 runs which would be of immense benefit to the team and makes our chances of winning great,” he said. “Every youngster needs to have a goal to achieve something in the sport and know when to quit. It is better to have goals and achieve something than just play without any goals. We still talk of the achievements of Aravinda de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga. For the next generation also we must leave something for them to attain. I am happy with what I have accomplished so far. There is a stroke named after me as well – Dilscoop.”