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Team India's captain Virat Kohli's message to Kumar Sangakkara

Kohli congratulating Sangakkara after his final innings

Indian Test captain Virat Kohli penned down one of the longest farewell message for the Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara to bid him adieu. It was surely an emotional moment for Kohli as he said it’s been a privilege for him to play in the same era as Sanga.

“It's been an absolute pleasure knowing you as a person first and no words can explain your great cricketing achievements. You have inspired many people and shown them the way. Lucky to have played in the same era as you. Thanks for everything. God bless you and your family and wish you the best in life ahead,” Kohli wrote.

India defeated Sri Lanka by an innings and 278 runs to level the series by 3-match series by 1-1 in the second Test at the P Sara Stadium in Colombo. The hosts were bowled out at 134 runs; Ravichandran Ashwin again proved a pain for the Lankans’ batting line-up as he picked his 12th five-wicket (5/42) haul. KL Rahul was rewarded with the Man-of-the-Match award for his brilliant century in the first innings of the match that helped stabilize India in the match.

Sangakkara couldn’t sign off with the win, but his numbers speak for himself. He did a lot for Lankan cricket team and will be remembered as the greatest Sri Lankan player ever. Representing Sri Lanka in 134-Test matches, he scored 12,400 runs at an average of 57.40, with 38 centuries. The 37-year-old batsman is the fifth highest run-scorer in history, he debuted for Sri Lanka in 2000.

Some stats

  • Sangakkara retired as Sri Lanka's leading run-scorer in Tests and ODIs.
  • Sangakkara's Test average (57.40) is the highest of the top 26 Test run-scorers.
  • Of those with 7,000 or more Test runs, only Sir Donald Bradman (99.94), Ken Barrington (58.67), Wally Hammond (58.45) and Sir Garfield Sobers (57.78) average higher.
  • Sangakkara averaged 66.78 as a pure batsman in Tests, as compared to 40.48 as a wicketkeeper, with 22 of his 38 Test centuries coming after he gave up the gloves.
  • Sangakkara is the first player to score four consecutive centuries at the 2015 World Cup.
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