Kumar Sangakkara: Sri Lanka's 12,400 Test Runs, 38 Centuries, Greatest Batsman and Wicketkeeper
Kumar Sangakkara is widely regarded as the greatest batsman in Sri Lanka's cricket history and one of the finest batters of any era. Born in Matale in 1977, he scored 12,400 Test runs at 57.40 with 38 centuries in 134 Tests — the sixth-most Test centuries in history. He also scored 14,234 ODI runs at 41.98 in 404 matches with 25 centuries. He was Sri Lanka's wicketkeeper for most of his career before giving up the gloves to focus on batting. He scored four consecutive ODI centuries in the 2015 World Cup at the age of 37. He was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2011 and was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2019.
Kumar Chokshanada Sangakkara was born on 27 October 1977 in Matale, Sri Lanka. He made his Test debut in July 2000 against South Africa. He was Sri Lanka's first-choice wicketkeeper from 2000 to 2006, after which he gave up the gloves to focus on batting. His batting was defined by exceptional timing, a strong technique against both pace and spin, and a capacity for very long innings — he scored 319 against Bangladesh in 2014, the highest Test score by a Sri Lankan. He was also a powerful ODI batsman who scored quickly while maintaining a high average.
Test Records: 12,400 Runs, 38 Centuries
Sangakkara scored 12,400 Test runs at 57.40 with 38 centuries in 134 Tests — placing him fifth on the all-time list of Test run-scorers and sixth on the list of Test centuries. He scored double centuries on three occasions (192 vs South Africa, 222 vs Bangladesh, 319 vs Bangladesh). His 57.40 Test average is among the highest for batsmen who scored over 10,000 Test runs. He retired from Test cricket in July 2015 after his final Test against India in Colombo. He had a celebrated batting partnership with Mahela Jayawardene — one of the most prolific in Test cricket history — who scored 11,814 Test runs at 49.84.
2015 World Cup: Four Consecutive ODI Centuries
In the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Sangakkara scored four consecutive ODI centuries — an extraordinary run of form at the age of 37 in the latter stages of his ODI career. The centuries came against Bangladesh (105), England (117*), Australia (104), and Scotland (124). He became only the second player in cricket history (after Zaheer Abbas) to score four consecutive ODI centuries, and the first to do so in a World Cup. He retired from ODI cricket after the 2015 World Cup. He was named ICC ODI Player of the Year twice (2012 and 2015). He was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2019.
Frequently asked questions
What are Kumar Sangakkara's career batting statistics?
Kumar Sangakkara scored 12,400 Test runs at 57.40 in 134 Tests with 38 centuries — fifth on the all-time Test runs list and sixth on the centuries list. He also scored 14,234 ODI runs at 41.98 in 404 matches with 25 centuries. His highest Test score was 319 against Bangladesh in 2014. In the 2015 World Cup at age 37, he scored four consecutive ODI centuries — only the second player in history to do so after Zaheer Abbas. He was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2019.
What records did Sangakkara set at the 2015 World Cup?
Kumar Sangakkara scored four consecutive ODI centuries at the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand: 105 vs Bangladesh, 117 not out vs England, 104 vs Australia, and 124 vs Scotland. He became only the second player in cricket history to score four consecutive ODI centuries after Zaheer Abbas, and the first to do so in a World Cup. He was 37 years old. He retired from ODI cricket following the tournament.