Kumar Sangakkara Debut, Biography, Stats, Net Worth, Wife, IPL Team, Records, Career
Few cricketers in modern times have the ability to combine intelligence and consistency like Kumar Sangakkara. The Sri Lankan legend is not only one of the game’s greatest wicketkeeper-batsmen, but he is also a cricket politician. His journey from a law student in Kandy to becoming one of the most respected figures in global cricket is both inspiring and remarkable.
Early Life and Background
Born to Kshema and Kumari Sangakkara, Kumar showed talent on and off the field from an early age. He studied at Trinity College in Kandy, one of Sri Lanka’s most prestigious schools, where he excelled in academics and sports. A brilliant student and orator, Sangakkara was originally pursuing a law degree when cricket came calling and the rest, as they say, is history.
Cricket Debut and Rise to Stardom
Kumar Sangakkara made his Test debut against South Africa at Galle in July 2000 and his ODI debut against Pakistan at Galle in July 2000. With accuracy even under pressure, he quickly established himself as Sri Lanka’s top wicketkeeper-batsman. His early innings were promising, but his temperament and ability to bowl long, fine balls set him apart. Sangakkara is known for his cover drive, late cut and easy timing, reminiscent of many greats such as Brian Lara and Rahul Dravid. By the mid-2000s, he had become a mainstay of Sri Lanka’s batting order. He began playing alongside Mahela Jayawardene, with whom he shared one of the greatest partnerships in cricket on and off the field.
Career Achievements
- Fastest to 12,000 runs in Test cricket (joint record)
- Second-highest run-scorer in ODIs (behind Sachin Tendulkar at the time of his retirement)
- 624-run partnership with Mahela Jayawardene against South Africa in 2006
- 38 Test centuries and 25 ODI centuries
- Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World (2012 & 2015)
- ICC Cricketer of the Year and Test Cricketer of the Year (2012)
- Captained Sri Lanka in two ICC finals, 2009 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup
- Named in ICC Hall of Fame in 2021
Net Worth and Brand Endorsements
As of 2025, Kumar Sangakkara’s estimated net worth stands around $25 million USD. His income sources include:
- Cricket commentary and punditry (Sky Sports, ICC events)
- Coaching roles and franchise consultancy (MCC, Rajasthan Royals)
- Endorsements for brands like LG, Puma, and MAS Holdings
- Appearances at global cricket conferences and motivational events
Sangakkara also served as President of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). He also became the first non-British person to hold this prestigious position.
Personal Life and Family
Kumar Sangakkara is married to Yehali Sangakkara, a philanthropist and social activist. The couple have two children, and are known for their quiet, family-oriented lifestyle. Yehali often accompanies Kumar on major cricket tours and is praised for his grace and humility.
Off the field, Sangakkara is an advocate for education, sports development and child welfare programs in Sri Lanka. His MCC Spirit of Cricket Lecture in 2011 is one of the most emotional speeches ever given by a cricketer. And that’s because he emphasized ethics, politics and responsibility in sport.
Kumar Sangakkara IPL Career
| IPL Team | Years Played | Matches | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kings XI Punjab | 2008-2010 | 37 | 985 | 94 | 31.77 | 128.54 | 8 |
| Deccan Chargers | 2011-2012 | 27 | 785 | 82 | 31.40 | 123.90 | 5 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2013 | 9 | 150 | 52 | 21.42 | 117.18 | 1 |
| Total (IPL) | 2008-2013 | 73 | 1920 | 94 | 29.53 | 125.60 | 14 |
Sangakkara’s IPL career was not as impressive statistically as some players, yet his class and cricketing intelligence left an impact. He captained Deccan Chargers and later played for SRH, mentoring the younger players with his tactical wisdom.
Kumar Career Stats
Batting & Fielding
| Format | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 134 | 233 | 17 | 12,400 | 319 | 57.40 | 22,882 | 54.19 | 38 | 52 | 1,491 | 51 | 182 | 20 |
| ODIs | 404 | 380 | 41 | 14,234 | 169 | 41.98 | 18,048 | 78.86 | 25 | 93 | 1,385 | 88 | 402 | 99 |
| T20Is | 56 | 53 | 9 | 1,382 | 78 | 31.40 | 1,156 | 119.55 | 0 | 8 | 139 | 20 | 25 | 20 |
| First-Class (FC) | 260 | 430 | 31 | 20,911 | 319 | 52.40 | – | – | 64 | 86 | – | – | 371 | 33 |
| List A | 529 | 501 | 54 | 19,456 | 169 | 43.52 | – | – | 39 | 120 | – | – | 518 | 124 |
| T20s (Overall) | 267 | 260 | 23 | 6,937 | 94 | 29.27 | 5,487 | 126.42 | 0 | 43 | 740 | 139 | 167 | 60 |
Bowling
| Format | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 134 | 4 | 84 | 49 | 0 | – | – | – | 3.50 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ODIs | 404 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| T20Is | 56 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| First-Class (FC) | 260 | – | 246 | 150 | 1 | 1/13 | – | 150.00 | 3.65 | 246.0 | – | 0 | 0 |
| List A | 529 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T20s (Overall) | 267 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Records and Milestones
- Most runs by a left-handed wicketkeeper in international cricket.
- Scored 11 double centuries in Tests which is second only to Don Bradman.
- Holds the record for most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in ODIs (482).
- One of only five players to score over 12,000 Test runs and 14,000 ODI runs.
- Only player to score four consecutive centuries in a single World Cup (2015).
His consistency, especially between 2010 and 2015, remains unmatched, during that period, he averaged nearly 70 in Tests and 50+ in ODIs.
Read More: Tim Southee Debut, Biography, Stats, Net Worth, Wife, IPL Team, Records, Career
Awards and Recognition
- ICC Cricketer of the Year, 2012
- ICC Test Cricketer of the Year, 2012
- ICC People’s Choice Award, 2011 & 2012
- Wisden Cricketer of the Year, 2015
- Sri Lankan Sportsman of the Year, multiple times
- ICC Hall of Fame Inductee, 2021
Conclusion
In short, Kumar Sangakkara represents more than runs and records. He is a shining example of the art of batting, great leadership and integrity in the game. Even after retirement, he continues to inspire fans and players. And he always proves that true greatness transcends boundaries.
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. When did Kumar Sangakkara retire from international cricket?
Sangakkara retired from ODIs after the 2015 World Cup and from Test cricket after the home series against India in August 2015.
Q2. How many centuries did Sangakkara score in World Cups?
He scored five World Cup centuries, including four consecutive centuries during the 2015 ICC World Cup, a record that still stands.
Q3. What is Kumar Sangakkara doing after retirement?
After retirement, Sangakkara became a commentator, cricket administrator and coach. He also served as the president of MCC and as the director of cricket at Rajasthan Royals (IPL).
Q4. What are Kumar Sangakkara’s most memorable innings?
His innings of 169 against South Africa (2006), 192 against Australia (Hobart 2007) and 169 against South Africa (World Cup 2015) are considered masterpieces of modern batting.
Q5. What makes Kumar Sangakkara a role model beyond cricket?
His intelligence, humility and clear voice for the spirit of cricket set him apart. His MCC Spirit of Cricket Lecture in 2011 was widely praised for addressing corruption, politics and national pride in the game.
