Dilscoop in Cricket
What is the Dilscoop? The story behind Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan's iconic invention — and how to play this scooping stroke over the keeper.
The Dilscoop is named for Sri Lanka opener Tillakaratne Dilshan, who made the stroke famous in the 2009 ICC World Twenty20. The batsman gets very low and flips the ball over the wicketkeeper and straight over the head, launching it toward the fine leg boundary for four or six.
How to Play the Dilscoop
- Get very low — front knee almost on the ground.
- Step outside off stump to give room inside the line of the ball.
- Point the bat face almost directly upward as the ball arrives.
- Cup the ball from below and flip it over the wicketkeeper — using the ball's own pace.
- The stroke is played almost in front of the batsman's face — head directly above the contact point.
- No power required — the ball travels on its own.
Why It Is Risky and Effective
- Risky: one mistimed Dilscoop goes straight up for the wicketkeeper's easiest catch.
- Risky: a lower full toss or swinging delivery makes contact very hard.
- Effective: most teams don't have a fine leg stationed on the boundary in the powerplay.
- Effective: the stroke disrupts the bowler's plans completely.
Frequently asked questions
Can you Dilscoop a bouncer?
No — the Dilscoop requires a full or half-volley length delivery. A bouncer would arrive well above the bat face and cannot be scooped over the keeper in this manner.
Is the Dilscoop the same as the paddle scoop?
The Dilscoop is more extreme — the batsman gets lower and aims the ball more directly over the keeper's head. The paddle scoop is a finer, softer touch toward fine leg.