Opener Dilshan inspired by IPL team mates Sehwag and Gambhir

Dilshan had scored a 26-ball 31 in the third one-dayer in Colombo,as Sri Lanka looked to chase an unlikely 364 to keep the series alive. “Whether its 363 or just 63,he plays the same way,” Gautam Gambhir said. “He keeps the mid-on fielder on his toes.”

Dilshan’s accidental promotion to the opening slot — and his dramatic success against Pakistan — has a strong Delhi connection,Dilshan admits. “Viru and Gauti are good friends,and during the IPL,we really hit it off well. I am inspired by them and have tried to learn a few things from them about batting as an opener.

“We discussed various gameplans to attack the bowlers during the IPL that I have been using recently to good effect,” he said.

Dilshan though,is convinced he cannot hit the ball in the manner Sehwag does,and advises young batsmen — and experienced ones as well — not to try and copy his shots. “Viru is a very special player and there are shots that only he can play,if you try and copy that you will get out.”

What you can pick up from the Indian opener,he says,is the attitude. “I have my own style of batting and I will not change that. But yes,like Viru,if I get the first ball of the match in the zone,then I will play my shots.”

There’s another destructive opener that Dilshan’s got a better view of,and he says walking out to bat with Sanath Jayasuriya is a special feeling. “I have admired a lot of things in Sanath,and I have learnt from him how to attack in a calculated manner,” he says. “The Kaluwitharana and Jayasuriya combination changed the face of batting in one-dayers,now I want to forge another dangerous pair with Sanath and bring similar results for the Sri Lankan team.”

After being around for close to a decade,Dilshan is happy to get a permanent slot at the top of the order. “I always wanted to bat at the top of the batting card. I’ve done well higher up,even at three and four.

“I’m really happy opening the batting,and I don’t want to go anywhere else.”