Kumar Sangakkara is a former Sri Lankan professional cricketer widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of the sport.
He played as a left-handed top-order batsman and was also a highly skilled wicketkeeper. He captained Sri Lanka to the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup final.
Here we have Kumar Sangakkara’s net worth, earnings, career, achievements, personal life, and more.
Kumar Sangakkara’s Biography
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kumar Chokshanada Sangakkara |
| Date of Birth | October 27, 1977 |
| Place of Birth | Matale, Sri Lanka |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Batting Style | Left-handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm off-break |
| Role | Wicketkeeper-Batsman |
| Test Debut | July 20, 2000 (vs South Africa) |
| ODI Debut | July 5, 2000 (vs Pakistan) |
| T20I Debut | June 15, 2006 (vs England) |
| Test Matches Played | 134 |
| ODI Matches Played | 404 |
| T20I Matches Played | 56 |
| Domestic Teams | Nondescripts, Warwickshire, Kings XI Punjab, Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| Spouse | Yehali Sangakkara |
| Children | Two |
Kumar Sangakkara was born on October 27, 1977, in Matale, Sri Lanka. He made his Test debut for Sri Lanka in 2000 and his ODI debut in 2000 as well.
Sangakkara quickly rose through the ranks, becoming one of the most reliable and formidable batsmen in international cricket.
He is best known for his stylish batting, with an elegant technique that made him effective in all conditions.
Professional Career
Sangakkara’s cricketing career is a tale of consistency and excellence. He played 134 Test matches, scoring 12,400 runs at an average of 57.40, including 38 centuries and 52 half-centuries.
He has the distinction of being one of the top run-scorers in Test cricket history. Sangakkara’s highest score of 319 came against Bangladesh in 2014. In ODIs, he played 404 matches, scoring 14,234 runs at an average of 41.98, including 25 centuries and 93 half-centuries.
Sangakkara was known for his ability to play long innings and anchor his team in difficult situations.
His partnership with Mahela Jayawardene was one of the most successful in cricket, particularly highlighted by their 624-run partnership against South Africa in 2006, which remains the highest in Test cricket history.
Apart from his batting prowess, Sangakkara was a sharp wicketkeeper, completing over 500 dismissals in ODIs. He played a vital role in Sri Lanka reaching the finals of both the 2007 and 2011 ICC Cricket World Cups.
Records and Achievements
- The only cricketer to score four consecutive centuries in World Cup history (2015)
- Highest partnership in Test cricket (624 runs with Mahela Jayawardene)
- Over 28,000 international runs across all formats
- 12,400 Test runs, making him the highest run-scorer for Sri Lanka in Tests
- Holds the record for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in ODIs (482)
Kumar Sangakkara’s Wife and Children
Kumar Sangakkara is married to Yehali Sangakkara. Sangakkara met his wife, Yehali, when they were at school together; they have twin children who were born in 2009 soon after he assumed the Sri Lanka captaincy.
Kumar Sangakkara’s Net Worth Details
Kumar Sangakkara’s net worth is estimated to be $25 million as of 2025. His wealth comes from a combination of his earnings as a player, endorsements, and commentary roles.
During his playing career, Sangakkara earned significantly from his contracts with the Sri Lankan Cricket Board and through participation in international leagues like the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Salary
Sangakkara was among the highest-paid cricketers during his playing days. His salary as a Sri Lankan player was supplemented by lucrative contracts in the IPL, where he played for teams like Kings XI Punjab and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
| Year | Estimated Salary |
|---|---|
| 2011 | $1.5 million |
| 2012 | $1.4 million |
| 2013 | $1.2 million |
| 2014 | $1.1 million |
Net Worth Growth
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $22 million |
| 2022 | $23 million |
| 2023 | $24 million |
| 2024 | $25 million |
Endorsements
Sangakkara has endorsed brands like Pepsi, Reebok, and Hero MotoCorp. His marketability has continued post-retirement due to his respected status in the sport and his involvement in cricket commentary.
Stats
Here’s a detailed table of Kumar Sangakkara’s career batting stats:
| Format | Matches (M) | Innings (Inn) | Not Outs (NO) | Runs | High Score (HS) | Average (Avg) | Balls Faced (BF) | Strike Rate (SR) | Hundreds (100s) | Fifties (50s) | Fours (4s) | Sixes (6s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 134 | 233 | 17 | 12,400 | 319 | 57.4 | 22,882 | 54.2 | 38 | 52 | 1,491 | 51 |
| ODI | 404 | 380 | 41 | 14,234 | 169 | 42.0 | 18,048 | 78.9 | 25 | 93 | 1,385 | 88 |
| T20I | 56 | 53 | 9 | 1,382 | 78 | 31.4 | 1,156 | 119.5 | 0 | 8 | 139 | 20 |
| IPL | 71 | 68 | 3 | 1,687 | 94 | 25.9 | 1,392 | 121.2 | 0 | 10 | 195 | 27 |
| First-class | 260 | 430 | 31 | 20,911 | 319 | 52.4 | 33,616 | – | 64 | 86 | 2,395 | 110 |
| List A | 529 | 501 | 54 | 19,456 | 169 | 43.5 | 23,880 | – | 39 | 120 | 1,792 | 133 |
| T20 | 267 | 260 | 10 | 6,937 | 78 | 29.3 | 5,488 | 126.4 | 0 | 43 | 740 | 139 |
FAQs
1. Who is Kumar Sangakkara?
Kumar Sangakkara is a former Sri Lankan cricketer, widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen and wicket-keepers in cricket history. He played for Sri Lanka from 2000 to 2015 and captained the team in all formats.
2. What are Kumar Sangakkara’s major cricketing achievements?
Sangakkara scored over 12,000 runs in Test cricket and more than 14,000 runs in ODIs. He holds the record for the highest partnership in Test cricket (624 runs with Mahela Jayawardene) and is the only batsman to score four consecutive centuries in ODI World Cups.
3. What awards has Kumar Sangakkara won?
In 2012, he won ICC Cricketer of the Year, Test Cricketer of the Year, and People’s Choice Awards. He was also named ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year in 2011 and 2013.
4. What is Kumar Sangakkara’s role post-retirement?
After retiring, Sangakkara worked as a commentator, served as President of the MCC (2019–2021), coached Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, and remains involved in charity work.
5. What is Kumar Sangakkara’s highest score in international cricket?
His highest score in Test cricket is 319 against Bangladesh, while his top ODI score is 169 against South Africa.
6. What makes Kumar Sangakkara’s batting unique?
Sangakkara was known for his elegant stroke play, especially his cover drives. He maintained a remarkable batting average of 57.40 in Tests, second only to Don Bradman among players with over 10,000 runs.
7. Did Kumar Sangakkara play other sports?
Yes, before focusing on cricket, he represented Sri Lanka Schools in tennis and was a talented violinist during his school days.
8. What is Kumar Sangakkara’s contribution to charity?
Sangakkara supports several charities, including the Foundation of Goodness and initiatives like Think Wise to raise awareness about HIV prevention and discrimination.
9. What are some iconic moments from his career?
Notable moments include leading Sri Lanka to victory in the 2014 ICC World T20, delivering the prestigious MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture in 2011, and achieving numerous records as a batsman-wicketkeeper.
10. Has Kumar Sangakkara been inducted into any Hall of Fame?
Yes, he was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in June 2021, becoming the second Sri Lankan cricketer to receive this honor after Muttiah Muralitharan.
