Kumar Sangakkara, the legendary wicket-keeper is celebrating his 47th birthday today. Sportsin24x7.com is going to give the highlight of the Sri Lankan legend’s dynamic career.
Early Life and Family of Kumar Sangakkara
- Born on October 27, 1977, in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
- Grew up in a Tamil family that valued education and discipline.
- Father was a lawyer, and mother was a teacher.
- Attended Trinity College in Kandy, excelling in studies and cricket.
- Led his school cricket team to win several important tournaments.
Education of Kumar Sangakkara
- Studied law at the University of Colombo.
- Managed to balance studies with cricket successfully.
- His legal training helped him communicate well and understand the game better.
Cricketing Journey of Kumar Sangakkara
Domestic Cricket
- Started his domestic cricket career with the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in 1997.
- Impressive performances earned him a place on the Sri Lankan national team.
- Made ODI debut against Pakistan in 2000.
- Known for his elegant and powerful batting style and strong wicketkeeping skills.
International Career
- Made ODI debut on July 5, 2000.
- Scored 176 runs in the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup against Australia.
- Made Test debut against Australia on November 2, 2004.
- Excelled in ODIs, Tests, and T20Is throughout his career.
ODI Career
- Played 404 ODIs, scoring 14,234 runs with an average of 41.98.
- Hit 25 centuries and 93 fifties.
- Highest score in ODIs: 169.
- Contributed to Sri Lanka’s win in the 2014 ICC T20 World Cup.
Test Career
- Played 134 Test matches, scoring 12,400 runs with an average of 57.40.
- Recorded 38 centuries, with a highest score of 319 against Bangladesh in 2014.
- His innings set the record for the highest score by a Sri Lankan in Test cricket.
T20I Career
- Played 56 T20I matches, scoring 1,382 runs at an average of 31.50.
- Known for his calmness under pressure during crucial moments.
Indian Premier League (IPL)
- Played for teams like Chennai Super Kings, Deccan Chargers, and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
- Scored over 2,200 runs in 126 matches in the IPL with a highest score of 100.
- Served as captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2013.
Leadership, Captaincy, Retirement of Kumar Sangakkara
- Captain of the Sri Lankan national team in Tests and ODIs.
- Led the team to the finals of the ICC Cricket World Cups in 2011 and 2015.
- Known for his calm demeanor, strategic thinking, and ability to inspire teammates.
- Retired from international cricket after the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.
- Last ODI played on March 16, 2015, against South Africa.
- Transitioned to commentary and cricket administration after retiring.
- Worked to develop cricket in Sri Lanka and nurture young talent.
Kumar Sangakkara stats in ODI, T20I, Test, IPL
ODI Career:
- Matches: 404
- Runs: 14,234
- Average: 41.98
- Centuries: 25
- Fifties: 93
- Highest Score: 169
Test Career:
- Matches: 134
- Runs: 12,400
- Average: 57.40
- Centuries: 38
- Fifties: 52
- Highest Score: 319
T20I Career:
- Matches: 56
- Runs: 1,382
- Average: 31.50
- Centuries: 0
- Fifties: 8
- Highest Score: 90
IPL Career:
- Matches: 126
- Runs: 2,268
- Average: 30.34
- Centuries: 1
- Fifties: 10
- Highest Score: 100
Kumar Sangakkara Awards
- ICC ODI Player of the Year: 2011, 2013
- Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World: 2011, 2014
- Wisden Cricketer of the Year: 2012
- ICC Cricketer of the Year: 2012
- ICC Test Player of the Year: 2012
- Wisden India Cricketer of the Year: 2013
- Surrey cap: 2015
MCC Presidency
In January 2019, Kumar Sangakkara was invited by Anthony Wreford, the President of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), to be his successor. The decision was announced on May 1, 2019, and Sangakkara became the President-Designate. His one-year term began on October 1, 2019, making him the first non-British President of the MCC in its history, which dates back to 1787.
Sangakkara expressed his gratitude, calling the MCC “the greatest cricket club in the world” and saying it was a “huge honour” to be named its President. His strong connection with the MCC began in 2012, when he was awarded honorary life membership and joined the World Cricket Committee. His term ended with Clare Connor as his successor, who then made history as MCC’s first female President.
Coaching Career of Kumar Sangakkara
Kumar Sangakkara is currently the head coach of the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL), a role he took on in January 2021. Under his leadership, the Royals reached the IPL final in 2022 but narrowly lost to the Gujarat Titans by 7 wickets. In 2023, the Royals finished fifth in the league, just missing the playoffs.
