Kumar Sangakkara: Sri Lanka's Greatest All-Format Batsman
Kumar Sangakkara scored 12,400 Test runs, 14,234 ODI runs and was the first batter to score four consecutive ODI centuries — a cricket philosopher, wicketkeeper and batting great of historic proportions.
Kumar Sangakkara is widely regarded as the greatest cricketer Sri Lanka has produced and one of the finest batters in cricket history across all formats. Born in Matale in 1977, Sangakkara played 134 Tests and 404 ODIs for Sri Lanka between 2000 and 2015, scoring 12,400 Test runs at 57.40 with 38 centuries and 14,234 ODI runs at 41.98 with 25 centuries. He also served as wicketkeeper for much of his career — a role he eventually gave up to focus solely on batting. He captained Sri Lanka in 38 Tests, winning 19.
Four Consecutive World Cup Centuries
Sangakkara's crowning achievement in white-ball cricket came at the 2015 ODI World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where he scored centuries in four consecutive innings (117*, 105*, 117, 104) — the first batter in history to score four consecutive ODI centuries. He finished the tournament with 541 runs from seven innings. The achievement was made all the more remarkable by the fact that Sangakkara was 37 years old and had already announced his retirement from ODI cricket. Sri Lanka reached the quarter-finals before losing to South Africa.
Test Record and Legacy
Sangakkara's Test average of 57.40 places him among the highest-averaging Test batters in history — in the same company as Bradman, Hammond, Hutton and Sobers. He surpassed Jayasuriya as Sri Lanka's highest ODI run-scorer. His 287 against South Africa in 2006 — made as part of the world record 624-run partnership with Jayawardene — is his highest Test score. After retirement he became president of the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) in 2019, the first non-British and non-Commonwealth player to hold the office, and the first Asian.
Frequently asked questions
What is Kumar Sangakkara's Test batting average?
Sangakkara averaged 57.40 in Test cricket from 134 matches, scoring 12,400 runs with 38 centuries. This places him among the highest-averaging Test batters in history.
What did Sangakkara achieve at the 2015 World Cup?
Sangakkara scored centuries in four consecutive ODI innings at the 2015 World Cup — the first batter in history to achieve this. He scored 117*, 105*, 117 and 104, finishing with 541 runs in the tournament at age 37.
Was Sangakkara a wicketkeeper?
Yes. Sangakkara kept wickets for much of his international career before giving up the gloves to focus on batting. He took 182 catches and 20 stumpings as wicketkeeper in Tests, and 99 catches and 35 stumpings in ODIs.