Celebrating Kumar Sangakkara: Sri Lanka’s Cricket Legend Turns 47
Kumar Sangakkara, one of Sri Lanka’s most celebrated cricketers, turned 47 on Sunday. Known for his exceptional skills as a wicketkeeper-batter, Sangakkara was a key player during Sri Lanka’s golden era in cricket from the early 2000s to the early 2010s.
Test Cricket Achievements
In Test cricket, Sangakkara played 134 matches, scoring 12,400 runs with an impressive average of 57.40. He hit 38 centuries and 52 half-centuries, with his highest score being 319. He is the seventh-highest run-scorer in Test history and the top run-scorer for Sri Lanka in this format. As a wicketkeeper, he took 182 catches and made 20 stumpings.
ODI and T20I Records
In One Day Internationals (ODIs), Sangakkara scored 14,234 runs in 404 matches, making him the second-highest run-scorer in ODIs and Sri Lanka’s highest. He was part of the teams that reached the finals of the 2007 and 2011 ICC Cricket World Cups. In T20 Internationals, he scored 1,382 runs in 56 matches and was part of the team that won the ICC T20 World Cup in 2014.
Overall Career Highlights
Throughout his career, Sangakkara played 594 international matches, amassing 28,016 runs with 63 centuries and 153 half-centuries. He is Sri Lanka’s highest run-scorer in international cricket and the second-highest of all time globally. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), he played 71 matches, scoring 1,687 runs and winning the 2009 title with Deccan Chargers.
Doubts Revealed
Kumar Sangakkara -: Kumar Sangakkara is a famous cricketer from Sri Lanka, known for being one of the best players in the world. He played as a wicketkeeper and batter, which means he caught the ball behind the stumps and also scored runs for his team.
Sri Lanka -: Sri Lanka is a small island country located in the Indian Ocean, near the southern tip of India. It is known for its beautiful beaches, rich culture, and love for cricket.
Wicketkeeper-batter -: A wicketkeeper-batter is a cricket player who has two important roles: catching the ball behind the stumps (wicketkeeper) and scoring runs by hitting the ball (batter).
Test cricket -: Test cricket is the longest form of the sport, where matches can last up to five days. It is considered the most challenging and prestigious format of cricket.
ODIs -: ODIs, or One Day Internationals, are a type of cricket match that lasts for one day. Each team gets to bat and bowl for a limited number of overs, usually 50.
T20Is -: T20Is, or Twenty20 Internationals, are a shorter format of cricket where each team plays for 20 overs. These matches are fast-paced and usually last about three hours.
IPL -: The IPL, or Indian Premier League, is a professional Twenty20 cricket league in India. It features teams from different Indian cities and is very popular for its exciting matches and star players.
Deccan Chargers -: Deccan Chargers was a cricket team that played in the Indian Premier League. They won the IPL title in 2009, with Kumar Sangakkara being one of their key players.