Cricket
Early cricket journey
Sangakkara's path to international cricket began with outstanding performances that earned him a spot in the Sri Lankan national team.
Starting in 1999 with Sri Lanka's tour of South Africa, he showcased his talent, notably scoring 156 not out against Zimbabwe A. His domestic play for Nondescripts Cricket Club also highlighted his skills. Kumar Sangakkara's international debut in 2000 marked a turning point. His early performances in both ODI and Test matches displayed his exceptional talent as a batsman and his abilities as a wicketkeeper, quickly establishing him as a key player for Sri Lanka.
" Sangakkara's achievements include partnerships with the Sri Lankan team and setting rapid run milestones in cricket. "
International and domestic career
During 2002 to 2006, Sangakkara emerged as a pillar to the Sri Lankan team. He consistently displayed his skills on a global stage, including tours to England and series across Australia, India, and beyond.
He shone brightly in major tournaments like the 2003 World Cup and the 2004 Asia Cup campaign for Sri Lanka.
In Sri Lanka, his performance peaked in the 2003-04 season with Nondescripts, scoring over a thousand runs.
Sangakkara's T20 journey started in 2004, and by 2006 he made a significant impact in Sri Lanka's inaugural T20 International match against England, where he was already a core member of the cricket team.
Notably, in 2006, Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene set a world record with a 624-run stand against South Africa, marking a legendary moment in cricket.
Sangakkara scores 192 Sri Lanka vs Australia in 2007
Paving the way as a cricketing legend
From 2007, Sangakkara became a irreplaceable presence in international cricket and English county cricket, playing for teams like Warwickshire and Surrey. His role expanded beyond the field as Sri Lanka's vice-captain and later captain, leading to numerous records and accolades.
His time in the Indian premier league (IPL) and contributions to the Rajasthan Royals further highlight skill.
Kumar's notable cricket stats
Test Matches
Played 134, scoring 12,400 runs with an average of 57.40, including 38 centuries.
T20I Matches
Participated in 56 games, scoring 1,382 runs, with a top score of 78.
ODI Matches
Featured in 404 matches, with 14,234 runs at an average of 45.98, with 29 centuries.
Shaping Sri Lankan cricket with his achievements
Sangakkara's top score in test matches is 319, 169 for ODI and 78 for T20 internationals.
As part of the national team he has won the Asia cup thrice (2004, 2008, 2014), the Asian Test Championship once (2001-2002), and the T20 World cup in 2014.
Along with the team he has been a runner up for the ICC World cup twice (2007, 2011), and twice in the T20 world cup (2009, 2012).
From 2000 to 2015, he has five awards for the 'player-of-the-series' for ODI matches . (Source: Most-player-of-the-series-awards)
