Kumar Sangakkara is widely regarded as one of the greatest batters and wicketkeeper-leaders in cricket history. While best known for his batting excellence, Sangakkara also played a key leadership role for Sri Lanka during a transitional and highly competitive era. His calm, intelligent, and tactically sharp captaincy helped solidify Sri Lanka’s standing as a world-class cricket nation.
This article presents ICC-recognized captaincy statistics and highlights Sangakkara’s leadership legacy.
Key Metrics in Captaincy Records
- Matches captained
- Matches won
- Matches lost
- Draw / No-Result / Tied
- Win percentage
Test Matches – Kumar Sangakkara as Test Captain
Captaincy Stats (Tests)
| Matches Captained | 15 |
| Matches Won | 5 |
| Matches Lost | 3 |
| Matches Drawn | 7 |
| Win Percentage | 33.33% |
Context
Although Sangakkara captained Sri Lanka for a relatively short period, his Test leadership was marked by:
- Strong home performances
- Tactical batting decisions with long innings-building
- Establishing stability during the transition after Jayawardene’s captaincy
- Promoting young talents like Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal
One-Day Internationals – Captaincy Record
Captaincy Stats (ODI)
| Matches Captained | 45 |
| Matches Won | 27 |
| Matches Lost | 14 |
| No-Result | 4 |
| Win Percentage | 60.00% |
Context
Sangakkara’s ODI captaincy is remembered for:
- Leading Sri Lanka to the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup Final
- A strong, well-coordinated batting and fielding approach
- Effective combinations with Lasith Malinga, Dilshan, and Jayawardene
- Calm handling of pressure games
Overall Captaincy Record (Test + ODI Combined)
| Total Matches Captained | 60 |
| Total Wins | 32 |
| Total Losses | 17 |
| NR / Draw / Tied | 11 |
| Overall Win Percentage | ~53.33% |
Format-Wise Captaincy Record
Captaincy Stats Table
| Format | Matches | Wins | Losses | NR/Draw/Tied | Win % |
| Test | 15 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 33.33% |
| ODI | 45 | 27 | 14 | 4 | 60.00% |
| Overall | 60 | 32 | 17 | 11 | ~53.33% |
Final Thoughts
Kumar Sangakkara’s captaincy, though not as lengthy as some of his contemporaries, remains highly respected for its intelligence, calmness, and tactical clarity. His leadership during the 2011 World Cup and his influence in shaping Sri Lanka’s golden generation make him one of the nation’s most impactful leaders. Sangakkara’s legacy as a player and leader continues to inspire cricketers worldwide.
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