Limansa, daughter of Sri Lanka icon Tillakaratne Dilshan, carries his name and legacy with pride

When the daughter of a cricket legend takes the field in national colours, one question is practically inevitable: did you take up the sport after watching your father play?

That query was posed to Limansa ‘Limmy’ Thilakarathne — daughter of Sri Lankan icon Tillakaratne Dilshan — following Sri Lanka’s narrow 11-run defeat to India in the second Women’s Youth T20 at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday.

“Honestly, I’m really proud to be his daughter,” Limansa said. “I started playing cricket not because of him, but because I was inspired by him. I’m lucky to have him as my father and I’m proud to carry that name.”

For the 17-year-old, who resides in Victoria, Australia, the journey began far from her father’s immediate gaze.

“When I first started, my dad wasn’t even around; he was travelling. I was playing for fun. I wasn’t thinking seriously about it,” she recalled. “My mum was the one who encouraged me. She would send videos of me playing to my dad, and he felt there was some potential there. That’s really how everything started.”

That spark soon became something more serious.

“Later, I got selected for Victoria’s under-19 women’s programme. Things were progressing well, but we chose to pursue the opportunity to represent Sri Lanka. Looking back, I’m very happy with that decision.”

While her father was a devastating top-order batter, Limansa is carving her own path.

“When I started, I could bowl a wrong’un naturally, just off the back of my hand. My dad noticed it and thought I could develop more as a leg-spinner, and he helped me keep the wrong’un as a variation.”

A family reunion on Indian soil might be on the cards soon. “Dad mentioned he might come over, perhaps to Puducherry for the 50-over series,” she said. “We’ll see how it works out.”