As one of Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketers, Tillakaratne Dilshan has witnessed the game’s evolution across formats, generations and eras. From revolutionising white-ball batting with the iconic “Dilscoop” to captaining Sri Lanka on the international stage, Dilshan remains one of the most respected voices in world cricket.
In an exclusive interaction with myKhel during Big Cricket League Season 2, the former Sri Lanka captain shared his views on the unique concept behind the tournament, the rise of T20 cricket, the future of Test cricket, the growth of women’s cricket, Sri Lanka’s next generation of talent, and even the emergence of Sri Lankan javelin star Rumesh Pathirage.
Tillakaratne Dilshan Gets Candid in Exclusive Interview
One of the most compelling insights from Dilshan’s conversation centred on the challenge of succeeding across all three formats of the game. Discussing how modern cricket has become increasingly specialised, he highlighted Shubman Gill and KL Rahul as rare examples of batters who have successfully adapted their games to Tests, ODIs and T20Is. The 49-year-old former Sri Lankan all-rounder spoke on a variety of topics in the candid chat. Here are the excerpts.
Q: What makes the Big Cricket League unique compared to other tournaments?
Tillakaratne Dilshan: I think this is a very good concept. Especially for amateur cricketers who may never have played professional cricket. They are getting an opportunity to play alongside international players under lights and on quality grounds.
We have already seen in the first couple of games that many of these players are doing really well. I heard that some players from the previous edition even progressed to first-class cricket and county cricket opportunities. This tournament can genuinely change lives.
Q: How important is this league for players coming from corporate setups or non-professional backgrounds?
Dilshan: That’s the beauty of this format. The rules ensure that amateurs play key roles. An amateur must bat in the top order, another in the middle order, and some of them have to bowl important overs as well.
It means the tournament isn’t dependent only on international or first-class cricketers. These players get real opportunities to showcase their abilities. Some may even attract the attention of state teams and professional setups.
Last year, we already saw examples of players progressing through the system. That is why I feel this league is doing something special.
Q: As a former international star, how do you help these players during the tournament?
Dilshan: They always come and ask questions. They want to know about preparation, batting, bowling and handling pressure situations. This tournament lasts only a short period, but they learn a lot by watching how international cricketers prepare and conduct themselves. Small details make a big difference.
When these players return to their villages or state teams, they carry that experience with them and can share it with others. I think everyone selected for this tournament is lucky because they get exposure that many cricketers never receive.
Q: Modern cricket is producing bigger scores than ever before. Why has batting become so dominant?
Dilshan: The game has changed massively. Earlier, 250 or 260 was considered a very good ODI score. Today even 300 is sometimes not enough.
The T20 format has completely changed the mindset of players. It has brought new audiences into the sport and expanded cricket into countries such as the USA and Canada.
For me, T20 is entertainment. Real cricket is still judged through Test cricket and One-Day Internationals. T20 is a fantastic product for fans and commercial growth, but if you want to truly judge a cricketer, you look at Tests and ODIs.
Q: Yet bowlers who have traditionally done well in Test cricket continue to thrive in T20 cricket. Why?
Dilshan: Smart bowlers survive because they know how to adapt. In T20 cricket, every ball requires a decision. Batters are playing scoops, reverse sweeps and innovative shots all the time. Bowlers cannot rely on one line and one length anymore.
The best bowlers are the ones who can adjust quickly to conditions and situations. We saw that repeatedly during the IPL as well.
Q: Does the same principle apply to batters?
Dilshan: Definitely. Some players can adapt across all formats while others struggle. Look at players like Shubman Gill and KL Rahul. They understand how to adjust their game depending on the format.
But succeeding in all three formats is extremely difficult. That is why most countries now have different squads and even different captains for Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
Q: Is cricket moving towards greater format specialisation?
Dilshan: Yes, because many players now prefer shorter formats. We are seeing cricketers retire early from international cricket to play leagues around the world. I don’t think that is good for Test cricket.
Test cricket is slowly becoming limited to a few dominant nations. Administrators must continue to invest in it because it remains the highest form of the game. Scoring 10,000 ODI runs or succeeding in Test cricket is a different challenge altogether compared to T20 cricket.
Q: What are your expectations from the Women’s T20 World Cup?
Dilshan: Women’s cricket has improved enormously over the last few years. Today, I don’t see a huge difference between men’s and women’s cricket in terms of professionalism and competitiveness. They are chasing 250-plus scores, diving in the field and improving technically every year.
Earlier, only a few teams dominated. Now countries like South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan are becoming more competitive alongside Australia, England and India. That is why the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup will be very exciting.
Q: What is your message to Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu and the team?
Dilshan: Chamari is obviously very important. She has been carrying Sri Lankan women’s cricket for many years. Sri Lanka have played some good cricket recently and they have quality spinners. If they adjust quickly to conditions and Chamari performs well, they have a chance of doing something special.
Q: Your daughter is progressing through Sri Lanka’s youth system. How do you view her development?
Dilshan: She is improving every day. Recently she scored a couple of fifties and the Under-19 team is preparing for the next World Cup in Bangladesh.
They are coming to India soon for a series and I watch every game she plays. This Under-19 team is very talented. Hopefully, they can bring another ICC trophy to Sri Lanka. It has been a long wait.
Q: What are your thoughts on young Sri Lankan javelin star Rumesh Pathirage?
Dilshan: We have a lot of sporting talent in Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, athletes often don’t receive the same facilities that cricketers do. If they had access to more support and technology, they could achieve even greater things.
Rumesh has made all Sri Lankans proud. Hopefully he can continue breaking records and eventually win an Olympic medal for the country.
Q: What impresses you most about Indian cricket’s domestic structure?
Dilshan: India’s domestic system is outstanding. I have seen international players like Suryakumar Yadav go back and play domestic cricket for their state teams. That is very important.
The strength of the domestic structure is why India continue producing so many quality cricketers. Honestly, India could probably field three or four competitive international teams across formats.
Q: Can Sri Lanka build a similar system?
Dilshan: Hopefully. There are new officials and former cricketers involved in Sri Lanka Cricket now. We are hoping for improvements and positive changes to the system. Sri Lanka has talent. The challenge is creating the right structure to maximise that talent.
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