6. Tillakaratne Dilshan
Tillakaratne Mudiyanselage Dilshan, ( born 14 October 1976, as Tuwan Mohammad Dilshan), popularly known as Tillakaratne Dilshan, is a former Sri Lankan cricketer and a former captain of the Sri Lanka national cricket team. The best rated Sri Lankan player in run-chases in ODI history, he is often regarded as one of the most innovative batsmen of all time. Dilshan is one such rare cricketer who can bat, bowl, field and keep wickets. He is an aggressive right-hand batsman who invented the scoop, which has come to be known as the dilscoop, that hits the ball over the keeper. An opening batsman, he is also a capable off-break bowler. A livewire in the field, he usually fields at the point region.
Dilshan made his Test and ODI debut during the Sri Lankan cricket team’s tour to Zimbabwe in 1999. He is also the second cap for Sri Lanka in Twenty20 Internationals. He is the first cricketer in the history of the game to score hundreds in all formats as a captain.
Dilshan won the Twenty20 International Performance of the Year award at the 2009 ICC Awards for his 96 off 57 balls against West Indies in the semi-final of the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 in England. He also won man of the series trophy for his individual batting performances in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 tournament. He was also a key member of the team that won the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 and was part of the team that made the finals of 2007 Cricket World Cup, 2011 Cricket World Cup, 2009 ICC World Twenty20 and 2012 ICC World Twenty20.
He is the fourth Sri Lankan and eleventh player overall to score 10,000 ODI runs. Being the third overall and first Sri Lankan to score 1,500 runs in Twenty20 Internationals, he is also the first player to hit 200 fours in T20Is. Dilshan scored 1000 or more ODI runs in a calendar year four times and never failed to amass fewer than 800 runs in any calendar year between 2009 and 2015.
Dilshan was under-estimated in cricket world as an ordinary player when he batted at number 6 and 7, unlike his revered teammates Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. When he gained the opening batting position, Dilshan became one of the finest cricketers in the world and a legend in modern cricketing history. His quick progression can be seen in his stats: after he moved to the opening position, he scored 21 ODI centuries and all his Test and T20I centuries
Tillakaratne Dilshan means Hard work and dedication. He is a great lesson for youngsters.