Kumar Sangakkara
Sri Lanka’s Batting Maestro
Kumar Sangakkara is widely regarded as one of the greatest wicketkeeper-batters in cricket history. During an international career spanning from 2000 to 2015, he established himself as one of the most elegant and prolific run-scorers the game has ever seen. He was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2021 and remains one of Sri Lanka’s most celebrated cricketers.
Player Profile
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kumar Chokshanada Sangakkara |
| Born | 27 October 1977 |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Role | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Batting Style | Left-Handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-Arm Off Break |
| International Career | 2000–2015 |
| ICC Hall of Fame | Inducted in 2021 |
Career Statistics
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | 100s | Highest Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 134 | 12,400 | 57.40 | 38 | 319 |
| ODIs | 404 | 14,234 | 41.98 | 25 | 169 |
| T20Is | 56 | 1,382 | 31.48 | 0 | 78 |
| International Total | 594 | 28,000+ | — | 63 | 319 |
Sangakkara retired as one of the highest run-scorers in both Test and ODI cricket.
Major World Records
Batting Records
- Over 28,000 international runs across formats.
- 38 Test centuries and 25 ODI centuries.
- Fastest batter to reach 10,000 Test runs in terms of innings at the time.
- Record holder for four consecutive centuries in a Cricket World Cup (2015).
- Most international runs in a calendar year (2,868 runs in 2014).
Wicketkeeping Records
| Record | Achievement |
|---|---|
| ODI Dismissals | 482 |
| ODI Catches | 383 |
| ODI Stumpings | 99 |
| International Dismissals | 678+ |
Sangakkara holds the record for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in ODI cricket.
Test Cricket Achievements
| Record | Achievement |
|---|---|
| Test Runs | 12,400 |
| Test Average | 57.40 |
| Test Centuries | 38 |
| Double Centuries | 11 |
| Highest Score | 319 |
Only Don Bradman scored more Test double centuries than Sangakkara.
ICC Tournament Achievements
ICC Cricket World Cup
- Runner-up in 2007 and 2011.
- Scored four consecutive centuries during the 2015 World Cup.
- Among the highest run-scorers in World Cup history.
ICC T20 World Cup
- Member of Sri Lanka’s title-winning squad in 2014.
- Scored an unbeaten 52 in the final against India and won Player of the Match.
Why Kumar Sangakkara Was Special
Sangakkara combined technical perfection, consistency, and leadership. He excelled as both a wicketkeeper and specialist batter, making him one of cricket’s most complete players. His ability to perform across all formats and conditions made him a pillar of Sri Lankan cricket for over a decade.
Career Highlights
- ICC Hall of Fame inductee (2021).
- T20 World Cup winner (2014).
- Four consecutive World Cup centuries.
- 28,000+ international runs.
- 63 international centuries.
- One of only a few players with 12,000+ Test and 14,000+ ODI runs.
Related Players
- Mahela Jayawardene
- Muttiah Muralitharan
- Sanath Jayasuriya
- Adam Gilchrist
- MS Dhoni
- AB de Villiers
- Rahul Dravid
FAQs
How many international runs did Kumar Sangakkara score?
Kumar Sangakkara scored more than 28,000 international runs across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
How many centuries did Kumar Sangakkara score?
He scored 63 international centuries, including 38 in Tests and 25 in ODIs.
What is Kumar Sangakkara’s highest Test score?
His highest Test score was 319 against Bangladesh.
What World Cup record does Sangakkara hold?
He is the only player to score four consecutive centuries in a Cricket World Cup.
How many dismissals did Sangakkara make as a wicketkeeper?
He completed more than 678 international dismissals and holds the ODI record with 482 dismissals.
Did Kumar Sangakkara win a World Cup?
Yes, he was part of Sri Lanka’s ICC T20 World Cup-winning team in 2014.
Is Kumar Sangakkara in the ICC Hall of Fame?
Yes, he was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2021.
Why is Kumar Sangakkara considered one of the greatest batters?
Because of his exceptional consistency, 28,000+ international runs, outstanding averages, and success across all formats of the game.