Dimuth Karunaratne believes that the role of an anchor player is still significant in Sri Lankan cricket. Despite not playing ODI cricket for over two years, Dimuth Karunaratne believes he can still contribute to the Sri Lankan team in the 50-over format. He has been recalled for the ODI series against Afghanistan after playing in the Dhaka Premier League for Shinepukur Cricket Club to prepare for the upcoming matches.
Karunaratne, who captained Sri Lanka in the 2019 ODI World Cup, played a few more series before being dropped from the team. Reflecting on his performances, he said, “I played a few games for Sri Lanka after the 2019 World Cup, followed by some club cricket matches. During that time, I did well and had an average of over 40, scoring a few fifties. We also had several 100-plus partnerships for Sri Lanka.”
He emphasized that his role was to play as an anchor and bat until the 40th over as instructed by the selectors. However, he acknowledged that the new selectors have a different vision and approach for the Sri Lankan team, which he respects.
Karunaratne believes that, unlike some top teams who adopt an aggressive style of play, Sri Lanka still requires a player who can hold the innings together. He explained, “In our culture, we don’t have an abundance of cricketers like England. We have limited players, but we have good fitness levels and can rotate the strike and find gaps. This has been the characteristic of our players in the past. I think we need someone who can bat for longer periods and allow others to bat around them, as that has brought us success in Sri Lanka cricket. I believe we need someone who can bat until the 40th over.”
When it comes to selection, Karunaratne stated that he won’t pursue the selectors or ask to be picked. Instead, he aims to let his batting do the talking and prove his capability on the field.