He wears huge wicketkeeper gloves, but Jesus has an even bigger hand in the life of Sri Lankan cricketer Niroshan Dickwella.
The 29-year-old (pictured above), with more than 130 Test, ODI and T20 caps, is never stumped when asked for his role model, declaring: “Jesus has helped me throughout my career.”
To help remind him, he has an inspirational arm tattoo of the Bible verse Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
“I got this tattoo a few years ago, and I see it every time I go out to bat,” he told Planet Sport.
“No one would believe me, but I say a small prayer to Jesus before I face every single ball when I bat.
“When I feel uncomfortable out in the middle, I just look at this verse and I then feel confident; I feel like I have Jesus next to me.”
There’s no better teammate, and it’s helped the left-handed batsman-wicketkeeper to 21 Test 50s, two international ODI centuries and a T20 half-ton. He also has more than 170 catches and 38 stumpings for Sri Lanka across all formats.
Along with his Saviour, a Sri Lankan cricketing legend also helped shape Dickwella’s career.
“Kumar Sangakkara was my role model because he was a wicketkeeper, he was left-handed and went to my school as well. He’s from Kandy.
“That made me follow him and I had number 11, his jersey number, when I was playing for the Sri Lanka Under-19s. Eventually I had to change my number because I played with him!”
The Sri Lankan team’s dressing room reflects the country’s Buddhist nature, but Dickwella has seized the chance to talk about his faith.
BIBLE
“We are used to arguing about some Bible verses. Sometimes we used to say, this is what it means. We’ve had a few chats about that.
“Sometimes when we hang out, or go for a coffee, we talk about God, but in this country a Christian wouldn’t really open up and say that Jesus is my God, because it is a Buddhist country.
“There’s nothing bad about that, but I’m not ashamed – I will talk about God to anyone.”
Dickwella’s father was a Buddhist, but his mother a Christian, which led to him learning about Jesus at Sunday school.
That background has helped give his faith the solid foundations needed in a troubled country.
“There is a bit of criticism going on in Sri Lanka, but I don’t care about criticism because I always believe in my God,” Dickwella told Planet Sport.
“I want to show non-believers what I can do through God. I want to praise him in the middle and show everyone that I am his child.”
He’s grateful for that opportunity, and the advantages the religion-like status of cricket in Sri Lanka has given him.
“There are so many things. My career has helped me to take care of my family, my sister, my friends, and the popularity I have now is all because of cricket.
“I got cricket because of my God – God gave it to me.”
