Feeling at home

At a party held for the players of Delhi Daredevils recently, cricketer Tilakaratne Dilshan seemed to be the apple of everyone’s eye. Style may not have been his forte, but he quickly informs that in the course of his cricketing career, he has not only picked up tips about the game but also on how to look right. Clad in a casual tee, teaming it up with a formal shirt, jeans and cap, he was the showstopper of the ramp that evening. “Be confident in everything you do, is what I have learnt over the years,” he says.

For someone who can handle the fast bowlers with ease and take on the spinners aggressively, this Sri Lankan player is a soft and a well-mannered guy. No wonder he is called the ‘Violent Buddha’.

Speaking to Metrolife, Dilshan says the very fact that IPL is being held in India this season makes him feel like he is at home. “Last year when we played in South Africa it just didn’t feel the same. The real fun in IPL happens when we play in India. It’s really good to be here this time,” he gleams.

About his Delhi Daredevil teammates, Dilshan says, there is a feeling of togetherness among them. “From the very beginning we have been like a family. It does not matter where we come from or what our background is. As a team we have really bonded and do almost everything together,” he says.

“Everything,” Metrolife asks and he laughs, “Well, we enjoy shopping a lot. Last time in South Africa we all went out with our respective families and shopped a lot. That was a memorable moment for me because it’s very rare that a team heads out for a casual outing with families. I think that is one memory I will always cherish,” he explains.

As for the win and the loss, Dilshan says, “It’s all part and parcel of the game. But as players our aim is to go out there and give our 100 per cent. The rest will take its own course.”