Kumar Sangakkara is probably the best wicket-keeper to ever play the longest format of the game. It doesn’t mean that he was not good in the white-ball cricket, the Lankan legend has excelled there too, especially in the One Day Internationals. Elegance, class, determination, and perseverance are the adjectives that define Kumar Sangakkara. In his 15 years of journey in international cricket, Sanga made more than 26000 runs for Sri Lanka and won many matches single-handedly. Let’s contemplate some Interesting Facts about Kumar Sangakkara.
Interesting Facts About Kumar Sangakkara
- Kumar Choksanadan Sangakkara was born on 27th October 1977 in Matale, near the central province of Kandy to Kumari Surangana and Kshema Sangakkara. He has three siblings.
- Sangakkara is graduated from Trinity College, Kandy. He used to play Violin in college.
- Sangakarra’s nickname is Sanga.
- The Sri Lankan wicket-keeper batsman has represented his school in U-13, U-17, and U-19 before playing for Sri Lanka A. His good performances helped him to get into Sri Lanka A squad for the tour of South Africa in 1998-99.
- Sangakkara was fond of playing tennis and played at the school level before switching to cricket.
- Kumar Sangakkara made his first appearance in ODI cricket in 2000 against Pakistan. He scored 35 runs in that match.
- Sangakkara has amassed the 2nd most runs in ODI, 14234 runs in 404 ODIs. The Lankan legend has also hit the 2nd most number of the 50s in ODI cricket, 93.
- The gentleman was as good in keeping as his batting, affecting 482 dismissals (383 ct+99 ct) in One Day Internationals which is the most by any keeper in the format.
- With Srilanka, Sangakkara won the 2002 Champions Trophy. He scored a sum of 169 runs in 5 matches for his nation.
- Sangakkara has won the ICC ODI Player of the Year award twice in 2011 & 2013.
- Even in the last tournament of his ODI career, which was the 2015 Crikcet World Cup, he was in sublime form. Kumar scored 4 consecutive centuries in the event against Bangladesh, England, Australia, and Scottland. He is the sole cricketer to do so.
- One of the greatest wicket-keeper batsmen of all time, Sanga played his maiden test match against South Africa in 2000. The ace batsman ended his career with 12400 runs in 34 test matches.
- Sangakkara has the highest test average among cricketers playing more than 100 matches, 57.40.
- Kumar Sangakkara has scored the fastest 8000-12000 test runs in 152, 172, 195, 2018 & 224 innings respectively.
- Batting at No.3, Kumar has smashed the most number of Test hundreds (37).
- Sangakkara’s batting average at home was 61 and abroad was 54.
- He stitched a 624 runs partnership along with his mate Mahela Jayawardene for 3rd wicket against South Africa in 2006, which is the highest ever partnership in the longest format of the game. Sanga accumulated 287 runs in the match.
- The wicket-keeper batsman has 11 double hundreds in test, which is the 2nd most by any batsman in the format.
- Sangakkara’s life’s second ICC victory was the 2014 T20 World Cup win. He scored a 35 balls 52 to get past the target set by India in the finals.
- Kumar Sangakkara has played for three County sides in his career- Warwickshire (2007), Durham (2014) & Surrey (2015-17).
- Sangakkara played his last test match against neighbor India in 2015 in Colombo, he managed to get 50 runs only.
- Currently, Sangakkara is the Director of Cricket of the Rajasthan Royal team, getting appointed in 2021.
- In 2011, Sangakkara became the youngest player to deliver a speech at Marylebone Cricket Club.
- Sanga married his longtime girlfriend Yehali in 2003. They have two children together.
- Kumar is a member of the Think Wise Initiative launched by ICC, Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, and UNICEF. This initiative’s purpose is to create awareness about the deadly disease and eradicating discrimination against the people living with AIDS.
- The veteran cricketer used to wear jersey No.11.
- His estimated net worth is $21 million.
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