![Photo_1601644361299.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmd5gQuBpGgGotMqYPYd9JUonmugur74grGMZpMhFi9faf/Photo_1601644361299.png)

As a Sri Lankan I have a great interest towards cricket. I have watched many cricket matches in all formats. I love to watch matches in every format. I have some favourite cricketers. Like Sanath Jayasuriya 🇱🇰, Mahela Jayawardhana 🇱🇰, Dasun Shanaka 🇱🇰, Sachin Tendulkar 🇮🇳, Virat Kohli 🇮🇳, Ben Stokes🇬🇧, Steve Smith 🇦🇺, Kane Williamson 🇳🇿, Babar Azam 🇵🇰, and AB de Villiers 🇿🇦. But since my childhood I had a most favourite cricketer. He is considered as one of the greatest batsman in history of cricket. But now he is retired. He is Kumar Chokshanada Sangakkara. AKA Sanga.

![kumar-sangakkara-images.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVGrRfa5WVTbY9Npaw4CHLaaCieLujPfEqYUvuaxdcn8G/kumar-sangakkara-images.jpg) source

I know everyone heard that name before. If not you are not a real cricket fan. This legend was born in Matale, 1977. He went to Trinity college, Kandy. Did you know he was chorister and played violin in his school life 🎻😱. He was also the senior prefect of the school. After finishing school studies, he entered in to law faculty of University of Colombo. But he couldn't finish his degree due to his great commitment towards cricket.

![kumar-sangakkara-1410937336.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUpG5Jv4EaE61e9CC3xcaus7jdenpzQy4YMbVhnTAqLmL/kumar-sangakkara-1410937336.jpg) source

His test debut was in 20th July 2000 at the age of 22. He is a left handed batsman. His first test match was against South Africa. Sri Lanka won that match by playing only one inning. Sangakkara scored 23 runs before his first dismissal. His first man of the match award was also against South Africa by scoring 85 runs. He ended up with two 90's before scoring his first test century. That was against India in 2001. He scored his first test double century in 2002, against Pakistan and his first and only test triple hundred is scored against Bangladesh. He scored 319 runs in that match. He played 134 international test matches and scored 12,400 runs. He has scored 38 test hundreds, 11 double hundreds and 52 fifties. He has a test average of 57.40 😱😋.

![208303.5.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmec6yxBYZSuBGTSWUuStVdmb8UdEdV3S7kDgFcb6p9zUw/208303.5.jpg) source

His first ODI match was in July, 2000 against Pakistan. He made 35 runs in that match. His first ODI century was against Pakistan in 2003. He has played 404 ODI matches with a average of 41.98. He has 25 ODI hundreds and 93 fifties to his name. His highest ODI score is 169. It was against South Africa in 2013.

![_74071241_kumar_sangakkara_getty8.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdUDwetWhXXaPQGTCncHSn1dwLa73V3duK62BxG3ULgtG/_74071241_kumar_sangakkara_getty8.jpg) source

In his T20 career he has scored 1382 runs from 56 International matches with a average of 31.40. He is the man of the match in T20 world cup in 2014. This is first and only T20 world cup win for Sri Lanka so far. This was also the final T20 match for both Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardhene.

![Sangakkara.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdM2rsviUtyjDfuFBvsNAKx7er5WWPhyCGemyqwngZv7J/Sangakkara.jpg) source Sangakkara is a famous wicketkeeper-batsman. He has great wicketkeeping record in all formats. 1. Test matches : Catches - 182, Stumps - 20 2. ODI matches : Catches - 402, Stumps - 99 3. T20 matches : Catches - 25, Stumps - 20

Sangakkara held the captaincy in Sri Lankan team for two years (2009-11). With his captaincy Sri Lanka ended up with runner-up in T20 World Cup 2009 and 2011 Cricket World Cup. He retired from all cricket formats in 2015.

## His records ![Photo_1601644081726.png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmSSVcKRuygY2szr7Ur9yUiXEU9CheqrTuA9yvk7ncoZzA/Photo_1601644081726.png) 01. Highest runs getter at no. 3 position in test - 11679 02. He has the highest batting average among 10,000 runs club in test. 03. Fastest to 8000, 9000, 10000, 11000, and 12000 runs in test. 04. Second batsman to score a triplet and a hundred in same test match in first class cricket. 05. Highest partnership in a test match - 624 for the 3rd wicket along with Mahela Jayawardhene. 06. Score15 times more than 175 runs in test matches including 11 double centuries and 199* not out. ![247483.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYd89Gc7qFTdMGSixSR8NDWbiigYygczc35yD4J2TW1PQ/247483.jpg) source

He has played many franchise-based cricket tournaments within his cricket career. He played in IPL, CPL, BBL and many more club matches around the world. Even after his retirement he played for those tournaments. Sangakkara made a speech in MCC Cowdrey lecture in 2011. It is about the spirit of the cricket. After his retirement he became a commentator in Cricket. He is also the 1st non-British person to select as MCC president.

![GettyImages-538941942-1jpg.jpeg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPsmiuRTR45aXs3EgErAVpuayQJjKYgwzKtPkqySnkRfL/GettyImages-538941942-1jpg.jpeg) source

Sangakkara is very famous for his sportsmanship. He is a true gentleman in cricket game and real life.

![Kumar-Sangakkara-1.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUd2xvQ4V48QxqhTFombzaF3u2AYNpCbdoVanKkRWhHhi/Kumar-Sangakkara-1.jpg) source

So this article is about my favourite cricketer Kumar Sangakkara. Thanks for reading. Cheers! 😋

By @randula99