Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has applauded Sonal Dinusha for playing a fighting knock in the second Test
between India and Sri Lanka as well. He also added that the Sri Lankan youngster has scored runs consistently in the lower-middle order, while Devdutt Padikkal has done so batting at No. 3 as well. However, Dinusha scored an unbeaten 85 off 137 balls on Day 3 (Tuesday, August 25) in Colombo. Sri Lanka ended the day at 265/8 in their first innings in response to India’s first-innings score of 503/9 declared as well.

During a discussion on Sony Sports, Kaif said, “Padikkal comes at No. 3. Sonal Dinusha bats at No. 6 or No. 7. It means he has scored most of his runs batting with lower-order batters. This is a different aspect of the game where you take your game forward with tailenders and build partnerships. You have to talk to them and ask them to stay and play cautiously.”

“He takes a single off the last ball and keeps the strike. It shows that, along with skill, his cricketing sense is fabulous. Padikkal plays at No. 3, and he has proper batters with him. KL Rahul is there with him, or he builds a partnership with Shubman Gill. You will rarely find what he (Dinusha) is doing,” Kaif shared.

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However, former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara added that Sonal Dinusha has been the best batter across both sides.

“He has performed throughout the series. For me, he has looked the best batter across both teams. Many players have performed in the Indian team as well, if we talk about Devdutt and the way Dhruv Jurel has batted. However, especially considering the attack the Indian team has, it has Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and three spinners, if you bat like this against these players, you have some specialty,” he said.

“You cannot do that easily. Considering the technique, temperament, and shots he has shown, the Sri Lankan Test team has got a complete cricketer, and he is playing just his fifth Test match. He scored his first century in his fourth Test, almost scored a second century in the second innings, and the way he is batting in this innings, he is about to reach a century,” Pujara concluded.