Kumar Sangakkara one of the greatest batsman to grace the game of Cricket will hang his boots after the second Test match against India. A career spanning of 15 years of international cricket has reached its final chapter. In 537 international appearances Sangakkara has scored 26,584 international runs and 63 centuries. Sangakkara will also go down as one of the best ever wicket-keepers the game has witnessed. The contributions he has made to Sri Lankan cricket is huge and has been a role model for several youngsters in Sri Lanka. The elegance in his batting brings sheer delight to cricket lovers and the cricketing world will certainly miss Kumar Sangakkara the elegant batsman.
We have compiled the five best moments of Kumar Sangakkara in his 15 years of international cricket:
5. Lone warrior in Sri Lanka’s downfall at Hobart, 2007:
During the second Test match against Australia in Hobart, Kumar Sangakkara showed how tough a character he is. While the entire team struggled to cope up with the Australian attack Sangakkara stood as solid as a rock. After Australia posting a huge first innings total of 542, Sri Lanka responded in an unconvincing manner in the first innings with Jayawardene being the only centurion. Sangakkara after failing in the first innings showed how great a batsman he is in the second innings. With wickets falling in a heap in the other end Australian bowlers toiled hard to take the wicket of Sangakkara and eventually got him but after a well accomplished innings of 192. Even though his efforts went in vain his gritty knock of 192 transformed him into an even more greater batsman as he is now.
Kumar Sangakkara is all smiles after his gritty knock of 192
4. Featuring in a world record partnership in Tests:
During South Africa’s tour of Sri Lanka in the year 2006 records tumbled as Sri Lanka decimated the visitors. Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara were the chief destroyers as they registered a record 3rd wicket partnership of 624 runs. This partnership still remains the highest partnership for any wicket in Test history and it needs an uphill task to go past that. Both the players went on to register their highest Test scores after that match. Sangakkara was the first one to depart in their partnership scoring 287 runs which contained 35 boundaries. Later Sangakkara went on to make his highest score of 319 against Bangladesh in the year 2014.
The duo is elated after their record partnership
3. Sangakkara’s heroics in world T20 2014:
After a tremendous bowling performance from the Sri Lankan bowlers restricting India to a modest total of 130, Sri Lanka backed it up with their batting chasing down the total in just 17.5 overs. Sri Lanka emerged victorious which is their first major triumph in ICC events after 1996 World cup. Although the chase looked little tricky after losing early wickets, Sangakkara steadied the ship making a match winning 52 which saw Sri Lanka over the line. Before the start of World T20 Sangakkara announced that this will be his last appearance in T20’s and being a crucial member on that victory is certainly icing on the cake.
Kumar Sangakkara jumps in the air after getting to half-century
2. Sangakkara’s four consecutive tons in World cup 2015:
Kumar Sangakkara’s last appearance in world cup went in a merry way as one would have expected. He exceeded one’s expectations as he became the first cricketer in ODI history to notch up four consecutive centuries. The left hander brought up his fourth consecutive century against Scotland (124) followed an unbeaten 105 against Bangladesh, 117 not out against England and 104 against Australia. However, the 37 year old couldn’t carry on as Sri Lanka’s campaign was ended in the quarter-finals by South Africa.
Kumar Sangakkara points to the dressing room after scoring his 4th consecutive century against Scotland
1. Kumar Sangakkara wins big at ICC awards 2012:
In the year 2012 there was only one cricketer who dominated the ICC awards, it’s the left hander Kumar Sangakkara from Sri Lanka. He was prolific in both Tests and ODIs during the 12-month voting period ending in early August: in 14 Tests, he compiled 1,444 runs at an average of 60.16, including five centuries and five half-centuries, highlighted by a match-saving 211 against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in 37 ODIs, he scored 1457 runs with three hundreds, and also completed 39 catches and three stumpings as a wicketkeeper. Sangakkara grabbed the prestigious cricketer of the year and Test cricketer of the year award. He also won the people’s choice award.
Kumar Sangakkara address the media after winning 3 ICC awards