The Mahela-Sanga duo : Pillers of the Srilankan Cricket
The Indian cricket team's tour of Sri Lanka has received a lot of attention in international cricket as it is the last Test match of world renowned batsman Kumar Sangakkara. Kumar Chokshanada Sangakkara, who has excelled in international cricket for 15 years, has scored 12305 runs in 132 Tests before the Indian series, including 38 centuries and 52 half-centuries.
Former captain Mahela Jayawardene says that Sangakkara, 37, who holds many records on the world cricket field, is by far the greatest cricketer ever to emerge from Sri Lanka. Mahela, who is a close friend of Sangakkara's cricket career as well as his personal life, said this when his colleague was about to sing the swan song at the cricket ground.
Sangakkara, who retired from the Twenty20 World Cup after winning the Twenty20 World Cup for Sri Lanka last year, retired from ODIs after the last World Cup. We will not see this unbeaten batsman again at the Cricket Ground after the second Test which starts on the 20th at the P. Saravanamuttu Oval.
Kumar Sangakkara is the best batsman Sri Lanka has ever produced. But Aravinda de Silva is always the most recognized player among many Sri Lankans (myself included). But when you look at the records that Kumar has received in international cricket, he is the one who is ahead. He has scored over 60 international centuries, ”says Mahela.
Like Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, one of Sri Lanka's greatest batsmen, has amassed over 25,000 runs in international cricket. Mahela, who retired from Test cricket after last year's Test against Pakistan at the SSC, scored 11814 runs in 149 Tests with 34 centuries and 50 half-centuries. He also scored 12650 runs in 448 ODIs.
"Kumar's excellence is his ability to face any challenge and score on any type of pitch. Opposition groups called for a boycott of the assembly. Kumar is a great role model for our next generation of cricketers, ”says Mahela.
"In any international sport, only a handful can excel in every way on or off the field. Kumar is such a player. It will take time to fill his gap. Having a player like him is a resource in Sri Lankan cricket. I am lucky to be playing with a champion player like Kumar, ”says Mahela.
Foreign players visiting Sri Lanka will not forget to enjoy a meal at the 'Ministry of Crab's' seafood restaurant, which was started by these unique friends at the Cricket Ground. It was a turning point in their friendship.
The Mahela-Sanga duo, who have built as many connections on the cricket field as possible, have now gone down in cricket history. Together for more than a decade, the two have elevated Sri Lankan cricket to new heights. In the middle of the field, there were plenty of gloves clasped together. At the same time, they managed to write two different chapters in the record book.