Kumar Sangakkara
Sri Lanka's Elegant Master & Cricket's Gentleman
Quick Facts
- Full Name
- Kumar Chokshanada Sangakkara
- Born
- October 27, 1977
- Birthplace
- Matale, Sri Lanka
- Role
- Left-hand bat, wicketkeeper
- International Debut
- 2000 (Test vs South Africa at Durban, aged 22)
- Teams
- Sri Lanka, MCC (President), Surrey, Kings XI Punjab (IPL)
Career Statistics
Kumar Sangakkara's international cricket statistics across all formats
Test Cricket
| Matches | Innings | Runs | HS | Avg | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 134 | 233 | 12,400 | 319 | 57.40 | 38 | 52 |
One Day Internationals (ODI)
| Matches | Innings | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 404 | 380 | 14,234 | 169 | 41.98 | 78.86 | 25 | 93 |
T20 Internationals (T20I)
| Matches | Innings | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56 | 47 | 1,382 | 78 | 31.40 | 119.82 | 0 | 8 |
Biography
Kumar Chokshanada Sangakkara was born on October 27, 1977, in Matale, a town in the central hills of Sri Lanka. Educated at Trinity College, Kandy -- the same school that produced several Sri Lankan cricketers -- Sangakkara initially pursued a law degree at the University of Colombo before cricket took over his life. He made his Test debut against South Africa in Durban in July 2000 and quickly established himself as an elegant left-handed batsman with impeccable technique. What set Sangakkara apart was his rare combination of classical stroke-play and modern-day run accumulation, along with his ability behind the stumps as a wicketkeeper of the highest quality.
Over a 15-year international career, Sangakkara became one of the most prolific run-scorers in cricket history. He accumulated 12,400 Test runs at an extraordinary average of 57.40 -- the highest among all batsmen who have scored more than 10,000 Test runs. His 38 Test centuries included a career-best 319 against Bangladesh in 2014 and 11 double centuries. In ODI cricket, he scored 14,234 runs with 25 centuries, placing him among the top five run-scorers of all time. His greatest ODI moment came during the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where he scored four consecutive centuries -- against Bangladesh, England, Australia, and Scotland -- becoming the first player to achieve this feat in World Cup history.
Beyond his batting records, Sangakkara was renowned as one of cricket's most articulate and thoughtful figures. His 2011 MCC Spirit of Cricket lecture at Lord's, in which he spoke movingly about the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore and about cricket's power to unite divided communities, is considered one of the most powerful speeches in the sport's history. He captained Sri Lanka in all three formats and led them to the 2011 World Cup final. After retiring from international cricket in 2015, Sangakkara became the first non-British person to be appointed President of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in 2019, a historic honour reflecting his standing in the global game. He was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2021.
Major Achievements
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🏆
12,400 Test Runs at Average 57.40
Highest career average among all batsmen with over 10,000 Test runs, with 38 centuries and 11 double centuries across 134 matches.
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🏆
4 Consecutive ODI Centuries (2015 World Cup)
Scored four consecutive centuries in the 2015 Cricket World Cup, a feat never before achieved in World Cup history.
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🏅
ICC Cricketer of the Year (2012)
Named ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year in 2012, recognising his outstanding performances across all formats of the game.
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⭐
MCC President (2019) -- First Non-British Appointee
Made history as the first non-British person to serve as President of the Marylebone Cricket Club in its 232-year history.
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🏈
28,016 International Runs Across All Formats
One of the highest aggregate run-scorers in international cricket history, with 12,400 Test runs, 14,234 ODI runs, and 1,382 T20I runs.
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🌟
ICC Cricket Hall of Fame (2021)
Inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest batsmen and most respected figures in cricket history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Kumar Sangakkara's career
Kumar Sangakkara scored 12,400 runs in 134 Test matches at an average of 57.40, with 38 centuries and a highest score of 319 against Bangladesh in 2014. His Test average is the highest among all batsmen with over 10,000 Test runs. He also held 182 catches and effected 20 stumpings as wicketkeeper in Test cricket.
Yes, Kumar Sangakkara scored four consecutive centuries during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, hitting hundreds against Bangladesh (105), England (117), Australia (104), and Scotland (124). This remarkable feat made him the first player to score four successive centuries in World Cup history. It was his final international tournament before retirement, making the achievement even more extraordinary.
Yes, Kumar Sangakkara was appointed President of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in 2019, becoming the first non-British person to hold this prestigious position in the club's 232-year history. The MCC is regarded as the guardian of the Laws of Cricket, and his appointment reflected his stature in the game both as a player and as one of cricket's most articulate and thoughtful ambassadors.