Kumar Sangakkara: A Legendary Cricket Career and Life

Kumar Chokshanada Sangakkara was born on October 27, 1977, in Matale, Sri Lanka. He attended Trinity College in Kandy, excelling in sports and academics, and won the prestigious Ryde Gold Medal.

Sangakkara made his first-class debut for Nondescripts Cricket Club in 1997. He played for various teams, including Kandurata Maroons in Sri Lanka and Surrey in England.

Sangakkara debuted in Test cricket on July 20, 2000, against South Africa, and in ODIs on July 5, 2000, against Pakistan. His T20I debut was on June 15, 2006, against England.

Sangakkara scored 12,400 runs in 134 Tests at an average of 57.40, including 38 centuries. In ODIs, he scored 14,234 runs in 404 matches, and in T20Is, he made 1,382 runs.

Sangakkara was also a skilled wicketkeeper, achieving 202 dismissals in Tests, 501 in ODIs, and 45 in T20Is.

He captained Sri Lanka in all formats, leading the team to the finals of the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 2009 ICC World Twenty20, and won the 2014 ICC World Twenty20.

Sangakkara retired from T20Is in 2014 and from ODIs after the 2015 World Cup. He played his last Test in August 2015 against India.

After retiring from international cricket, Sangakkara played domestic leagues and for Surrey until 2017. He also became a cricket commentator and analyst.

Sangakkara received numerous accolades, including ICC Cricketer of the Year and ICC Test Cricketer of the Year in 2012, ICC ODI Player of the Year in 2015, and was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2021.

He is known for his philanthropic work through the Foundation of Goodness. Sangakkara delivered the 2011 MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture, addressing issues in Sri Lankan cricket.