Kumar Sangakkara: The Legend of Sri Lankan Cricket – Career, Teams, and Unforgettable Moments
**Let's Begin**
Kumar Sangakkara is largely recognized as one of the greatest cricketers of all time. A great batsman, adept wicketkeeper, and inspiring leader, Sangakkara's services to Sri Lankan cricket are immense. With almost 28,000 international runs, countless records, and a legacy of leadership, his career is packed with great events that altered the game.
In this blog article, we’ll explore: - Sangakkara’s career and teams
- The amount of players he played alongside - **Five of his most memorable and frightening moments** - His enduring effect on cricket
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## **Kumar Sangakkara’s Career & Teams**
### **International Career (2000–2015)**
Sangakkara made his debut for **Sri Lanka in 2000** and rapidly established himself as a batting regular. He played **134 Tests, 404 ODIs, and 56 T20Is**, scoring over **12,400 Test runs (2nd highest for Sri Lanka) and 14,234 ODI runs (3rd highest overall)**.
### **Domestic & Franchise Teams** - **Sri Lanka** (National Team) - **Kandurata Maroons** (Sri Lankan Domestic Cricket) - **Warwickshire** (County Cricket, England) - **Sunrisers Hyderabad** (IPL) - **Deccan Chargers** (IPL) - **Hampshire** (County Cricket, England) - **Kings XI Punjab** (IPL) - **Jamaica Tallawahs** (CPL)
### **How Many Players Did Sangakkara Play With? ** Throughout his **15-year international career**, Sangakkara played alongside **over 100 Sri Lankan cricketers**, including luminaries like **Muttiah Muralitharan, Mahela Jayawardene, Sanath Jayasuriya, and Lasith Malinga**.
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## **5 Most Memorable & Shocking Moments in Sangakkara’s Career**
### **1. 2011 World Cup Final Heartbreak (April 2, 2011)**
One of Sangakkara’s most difficult moments came in the **2011 ICC Cricket World Cup Final** against India. As captain, he guided Sri Lanka to a competitive **274/6**, scoring **48 runs**.
- **Mahela Jayawardene’s century (103*)** set a good total.
- **India chased it down**, owing to Gautam Gambhir (97) and MS Dhoni’s legendary **91* (winning six)**.
- Sangakkara’s leadership was commended, but the loss was terrible for Sri Lanka.
**Why Shocking?** - Sri Lanka were favorites following a strong competition. - The defeat deprived Sangakkara a World Cup trophy as captain.
### **2. Record-Breaking 4 Consecutive ODI Centuries (2015 World Cup)** At the **2015 ICC Cricket World Cup**, Sangakkara became the **first player in history to record 4 consecutive ODI centuries**:
1. **105* versus Bangladesh** 2. **117* vs England** 3. **104 vs Australia** 4. **124 vs Scotland**
- He entered a rare group with **Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar** in scoring **5 World Cup centuries**.
- Despite his exploits, Sri Lanka succumbed to South Africa in the quarterfinals.
**Why Memorable?** - A batting masterpiece at **age 37**, showcasing his endurance.
- One of the finest individual performances in World Cup history.
### **3. Ball-Tampering Controversy against England (2006)** In **December 2006**, during a Test match in England, Sangakkara was **accused of ball-tampering** when TV video showed him **appearing to raise the seam**.
- Umpires **Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove** punished Sri Lanka **5 runs**.
- Sangakkara **denied wrongdoing**, and the event raised discussions about umpiring bias.
- The match finished in a **Sri Lankan victory**, but the dispute remained.
**Why Shocking?** - Sangakkara was known for his **sportsmanship**, making the claim shocking.
- The event heightened tensions between Sri Lanka and ICC umpires.
### **4. Emotional Farewell Test (2015) - A Standing Ovation at P Sara Oval** Sangakkara’s **final Test match** was against India in **August 2015** at Colombo’s **P Sara Oval**.
- He earned **guard of honors** from both teams.
- Scored **32 & 18**, yet the fans gave him a **tearful standing ovation**.
- Ended with **12,400 Test runs (5th highest at the time)**.
**Why Memorable?** - One of cricket’s most poignant farewells. - Marked the end of an era for Sri Lankan cricket.
### **5. MCC Spirit of Cricket Lecture (2011) – A Fiery Speech on Corruption** In **2011**, Sangakkara delivered the **prestigious MCC Spirit of Cricket Lecture** at Lord’s.
- He **criticized Sri Lankan cricket politics**, revealing **board mismanagement**.
- Spoke about **player conflicts, corruption, and the 2009 Lahore terrorist attack**.
- The speech was **applauded globally** for its honesty.
**Why Shocking?** - Rare for an active player to publicly criticize cricket administration.
- Highlighted deep-rooted difficulties in Sri Lankan cricket.
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## **Conclusion: Sangakkara’s Legacy**
Kumar Sangakkara remains one of cricket’s most **respected figures**—not only for his runs, but for his **intelligence, leadership, and courage**. From World Cup heroics to contentious times, his career was never dull.
Even after retirement, he continues to impact cricket as a **commentator, coach, and ICC Hall of Famer (inducted in 2021)**. His legacy is eternal.
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