Lokuge Dinesh Chandimal

Dinesh Chandimal is a significant figure in Sri Lankan cricket, epitomizing both athletic tenacity and technical prowess. His birth on November 18, 1989 in the coastal environs of Balapitiya marks the beginning of a story that runs from the local playing fields to the world cricket stage. The purpose of this article is to reveal Chandimal’s multifaceted personality, exploring not only his contribution to the sport through strategic leadership and batting dexterity, but also his life off the field, where family and civic responsibilities underscore his character.

Dinesh Chandimal Career Stats - Test, ODI and T20

Career Information

Test debut vs South Africa at Kingsmead, Dec 26, 2011

Last Test vs Pakistan at Sinhalese Sports Club, Jul 24, 2023

ODI debut vs Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club, Jun 01, 2010

Last ODI vs Afghanistan at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Nov 30, 2022

T20 debut vs New Zealand at Providence Stadium, Apr 30, 2010

Last T20 vs India at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Feb 27, 2022

Biography

Initiating his foray into the world of cricket, Chandimal embraced the sport during his formative years at Dharmasoka College in Ambalangoda, subsequently transferring to Ananda College, Colombo. There, he assumed the role of captain for the under-17 team, a position that prefaced his subsequent ascendancy in the sport. In the year 2008, he was entrusted with the captaincy of the school’s primary cricket team, guiding them to an unprecedented series of 13 outright victories within a single season—a feat unparalleled in the history of Sri Lankan school cricket. This period of Chandimal’s cricketing education was marked by a prodigious achievement, as he became the inaugural schoolboy cricketer to eclipse the 1,000-run mark in a season, amassing a total of 1,580 runs. This extraordinary accomplishment merited the accolade of Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 2009. With his school cricket tenure culminating in distinction, Chandimal progressed to the Nondescripts Cricket Club, thereby advancing his cricketing pursuits.

Career Way From Domestic to International and Controversy

Dinesh Chandimal’s trajectory in the realm of cricket encapsulates a narrative replete with individual prowess and leadership acumen. His incipient engagements with the Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI were demonstrative of his potential, as he recorded commendable scores, including a substantial 109 runs. His batting, characterized by its aggressive nature, complemented by his capacity for leadership — evidenced during his vice-captaincy of the U-19 national team — foreshadowed his future role in higher echelons of cricket, including T20 and List A competitions.

Chandimal’s cricketing aptitude garnered international recognition, culminating in his procurement by the Rajasthan Royals in the 2012 Indian Premier League auction at a value of $50,000. Subsequently, his T20 acumen was further honed through his engagement with the Bangladesh Premier League’s Chittagong Vikings.

In domestic circuits, Chandimal’s performances were robust, epitomized by his frequent appointments as the captain of the Colombo team across various formats in 2018, signifying the trust placed in his leadership. A zenith of his domestic career was the monumental 354 not out he scored in 2020, setting a new high score in Sri Lankan domestic cricket.

Transitioning to his international career, Chandimal’s debut in the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 marked the genesis of his global cricketing endeavors. His maiden international century in an ODI against India was a harbinger of his batting capabilities. His Test debut in December 2011 further affirmed his talent, where he scored half-centuries in both innings, contributing to Sri Lanka’s historic Test win in South Africa.

Chandimal’s contributions were not limited to batting, as he was a pivotal figure in Sri Lanka’s runner-up finish in the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 and their victory in the 2014 edition, although his captaincy was truncated due to a suspension.

A hiatus in form led to a substantial interval between ODI centuries, yet Chandimal’s resurgence was marked by a sequence of steadfast half-century scores. His resilience was further tested by an injury during an ODI series against India, which he overcame to reassume leadership roles with vigor.

Chandimal’s tenure as captain has been a complex narrative of intermittent non-selection and leadership opportunities, particularly evident during absences of standing captains. His strategic ingenuity shone in a Test against Zimbabwe, guiding Sri Lanka to a formidable chase. His captaincy record is adorned with noteworthy performances, including a protracted century against Pakistan in a day-night Test.

Amidst fluctuating team dynamics and rotational captaincy, Chandimal’s constancy in leadership roles has been a pillar for the national team, even as he navigated personal health challenges and the team’s sporadic defeats. His stewardship culminated in leading the team to triumph in a tri-series against Bangladesh.

The conferment of a national contract preceding the 2018–19 season was an acknowledgment of Chandimal’s indispensability to the Sri Lankan cricket contingent. His career narrative underscores an athlete’s fortitude to not only excel individually under duress but also to shepherd a team through the vicissitudes of international cricket.

Dinesh Chandimal Ball Tampering Controversy

During the antepenultimate Test encounter with the West Indies in St. Lucia on June 17, 2018, Dinesh Chandimal became embroiled in a ball-tampering incident. The episode was captured on video, revealing Chandimal retrieving sweets from his pocket and subsequently applying saliva to the ball shortly thereafter. The officiating umpires, Ian Gould and Aleem Dar, along with the third umpire, Richard Kettleborough, and the match referee, Javagal Srinath, meticulously assessed the situation and subsequently sanctioned Chandimal with a one-Test suspension and appended two demerit points to his record.

Upon the conclusion of the match, a disciplinary hearing was convened by match referee Srinath. Despite the presence of team management and other officials, Chandimal failed to recollect the nature of the substance he had consumed prior to applying saliva to the ball. The match referee, adhering to the stipulations of the International Cricket Council’s Code of Conduct, dispensed the gravest penalty available, consisting of two suspension points and a complete forfeiture of Chandimal’s match remuneration.

In the interim, Chandimal’s plea of innocence concerning the ball-tampering allegation precipitated a sequence of events that disrupted the onset of the third day of the Test. The field umpires’ request to substitute the contentious ball with a new one was initially met with dissent from the Sri Lankan contingent, who refrained from taking the field. This impasse engendered a series of fervent dialogues among Sri Lanka’s coaching and managerial staff, match officials, and the match referee, particularly because the formal charge had not been communicated until the morning following the incident.

Ultimately, match referee Srinath stipulated that the Sri Lankan team commence the game by 11:30 am, deviating from the scheduled 9:30 am start, under the threat of match forfeiture. The Sri Lankan players assented, albeit “under protest,” and the match referee adjudicated a five-run penalty against the Sri Lankan side in relation to the infraction.

Further developments on July 11, 2018, saw the International Cricket Council (ICC) conclude its deliberations on the matter, with the implicated parties having acknowledged a level three violation of the ‘spirit of cricket’. Chandimal was adjudged guilty, entailing a two-match interdiction. In his absence, Suranga Lakmal assumed captaincy for the subsequent Test against South Africa. On July 16, the independent Judicial Commissioner imparted an additional eight suspension points to Chandimal, which represented the most stringent punitive measure for the infraction, thereby incurring a suspension from four One Day Internationals.

Personal Life - Who is the Wife of Dinesh Chandimal?

Dinesh Chandimal’s domestic sphere is characterized by matrimonial and paternal dimensions. He entered into matrimony with Ishika Jayasekara on the first of May in the year 2015, within the geographical confines of Colombo. Their matrimonial journey has surpassed the seven-year milestone, a fact often illustrated through pictorial representations on digital social platforms, offering a window into their shared personal narrative​​​​.

The familial structure is further augmented by their progeny, a son by the name of Binush Jaden, introducing the element of parenthood into their lives. In addition to his familial and professional cricketing engagements, Chandimal holds a position of distinction within the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, having been appointed as a Major in the Ordnance Corps in October 2020, signifying a multifaceted commitment to both his nation and his personal life​​​​.

Ishika Jayasekara, Chandimal’s spouse, personifies entrepreneurial spirit and initiative, engaging in business undertakings independently. Her academic foundation in business management, procured from a local institution in her place of origin, serves as the underpinning for her entrepreneurial activities. This indicates a partnership where both individuals navigate their professional spheres whilst fostering their collective familial life​​​​.

Conclusion

In the gathering dusk of the cricketing arena, the essence of Dinesh Chandimal’s being extends its influence far past the confines of the cricket ground. His saga, adorned with commendable achievements and edifying challenges, runs parallel to a life richly infused with domestic and societal dedication. Chandimal’s imprint on the world is indelibly marked not only by his quantifiable sporting triumphs but equally by the profound respect he garners for the balance he achieves between his vocational pursuits and personal commitments. Moving forward with his career and life, Chandimal stands as a paragon of the symbiotic relationship between one’s ethical conduct and their professional pursuits, affirming the possibility of a harmonious coalescence of excellence in both realms.