Mahela Jayawardene: The Masterful Sri Lankan Cricketer and His Unforgettable Legacy
**Let's Begin**
Mahela Jayawardene is one of the finest cricketers Sri Lanka has ever produced. A graceful right-handed batsman, intelligent captain, and superb fielder, Jayawardene’s career spanned over two decades, making an unforgettable impression on international cricket. Known for his beautiful stroke play, leadership, and tactical acumen, he played a vital part in Sri Lanka’s golden period of cricket.
This blog analyzes Jayawardene’s career, his achievements to Sri Lankan cricket, the teams he represented, and five of his most **memorable and startling moments** that characterized his legacy.
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## **Mahela Jayawardene’s Teams and Career Overview**
Jayawardene represented numerous teams throughout formats:
### **International Teams** - **Sri Lanka (1997–2015)** – Played **149 Tests, 448 ODIs, and 55 T20Is** - **Captaincy (2004–2012)** – Led Sri Lanka to the **2011 World Cup Final** and the **2012 T20 World Cup Final**
### **Domestic & Franchise Teams** - **Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC)** – Dominated Sri Lankan domestic cricket - **Delhi Daredevils (IPL)** – Played from 2008–2010 & 2014–2015 - **Kings XI Punjab (IPL)** – Briefly in 2011 - **Sussex (County Cricket)** – Played in English county cricket - **Kochi Tuskers Kerala (IPL)** - Short stint in 2011
### **Coaching & Mentorship**
After retirement, Jayawardene turned into coaching, acting as a **consultant for England (2015)** and then as **head coach of Mumbai Indians (IPL)**, guiding them to several titles.
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## **5 Most Memorable & Shocking Moments of Mahela Jayawardene’s Career**
### **1. Record-Breaking 374 vs. South Africa (2006) – The Epic Colombo Innings** One of the greatest Test innings in history, Jayawardene’s **374 against South Africa** in 2006 at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) was a lesson in patience and accuracy.
- **Partnership with Kumar Sangakkara (624 runs)** – The highest Test partnership ever at the moment.
- **Broke Sanath Jayasuriya’s Sri Lankan record** (340) and nearly surpassed Brian Lara’s 400*.
- **Sri Lanka declared at 756/5**, eventually winning by an innings.
This innings confirmed his status as one of the finest batters of his period.
### **2. 2011 World Cup Final Heartbreak vs. India** Jayawardene’s **unbeaten 103** in the **2011 World Cup Final** was a gallant performance in a losing cause.
- **Scored a century under pressure** at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
- **Sri Lanka posted 274/6**, but India chased it down thanks to Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni.
- **Emotional defeat** – This was Sri Lanka’s second consecutive World Cup final loss (after 2007).
Despite the defeat, his innings remains one of the finest in World Cup finals.
### **3. Shocking Retirement from Test Cricket (2014) – Then Unexpected Comeback** In a shocking move, Jayawardene declared his **Test retirement in 2014** following the Pakistan series.
- **Reason**: Wanted to focus on limited-overs cricket ahead of the **2015 World Cup**.
- **Fans were stunned** – He was still in fantastic form.
- **Made a short comeback** for a farewell Test in 2015 against Pakistan.
His untimely retirement signified the end of an era for Sri Lankan cricket.
### **4. Leading Sri Lanka to T20 World Cup Glory (2014) – Finally a World Title** After years of near-misses, Jayawardene finally **won an ICC trophy** as part of the **2014 T20 World Cup-winning squad**.
- **Played a significant role** in the knockout stages.
- **Defeated India in the final** – Lasith Malinga was captain, but Jayawardene’s experience was important.
- **Retired from T20Is shortly after**, ending on a high.
This triumph was a fitting finale to his T20 career.
### **5. The Infamous “Mankading” Controversy vs. England (2011)** One of the most **controversial moments** involving Jayawardene was the **“Mankading” incident** in an ODI against England.
- **Jos Buttler was run out** by Sri Lankan spinner Sachithra Senanayake at the non-striker’s end.
- **Jayawardene (as captain) upheld the appeal**, prompting global controversy.
- **England’s Alastair Cook labeled it “against the spirit of cricket.”**
This moment remains one of the most contested dismissals in cricket history.
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## **Conclusion: A Legend’s Legacy**
Mahela Jayawardene was not simply a cricketer but a **symbol of grace, intellect, and resilience**. From his world-record partnership with Sangakkara to his tragic World Cup defeats and joyful T20 triumphs, his career was a rollercoaster of emotions.
His effect extends beyond batting—his **captaincy, coaching, and mentorship** continue to define cricket today. Sri Lanka may never see another like him.
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