Denagamage Praboth Mahela de Silva Jayawardene (born 27 May 1977) is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who is now the head coach of the Indian Premier League franchise Mumbai Indians and the current consultant coach of the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team. Alongside Sanath Jayasuriya, he is Sri Lanka’s most successful captain. During his able leadership, he was particularly known for his technical ability and was praised for his skipper impulses.
In August 1997, he made his Test debut, and in January 1998, he made his One Day International (ODI) debut. In the opening test match of Sri Lanka’s home series against South Africa in 2006, Jayawardene and teammate Kumar Sangakkara scored 624 runs for the third wicket, the greatest-ever partnership in First-class cricket. In a career spanning about 18 years, he appeared in 652 international matches for Sri Lanka. Throughout his international career, he maintained healthy competition with Sangakkara.
Mahela has become the first player in Sri Lankan cricket’s historical past to obtain over 10,000 Test runs. He is also the 2nd Sri Lankan player after Sanath Jayasuriya to obtain over 10,000 Limited overs runs. Mahela Jayawardene is the current Chairman of the Sri Lanka National Sports Council. Jayawardene’s maximum test score of 374 against South Africa is the greatest by a right-handed cricketer in Test cricket historical past. Along with teammate Sangakkara, he owns the most career partnering runs for the third wicket in Tests, scoring 5890 runs, breaking Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar’s 5826 run record.
Jayawardene was a crucial team member that ended up winning the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 and also played in the finals of the 2007 Cricket World Cup, the 2011 Cricket World Cup, the 2009 ICC World Twenty20, and the 2012 ICC World Twenty20.
Mahela Jayawardene Biography
Real Name: Denagamage Proboth Mahela de Silva Jayawardene
Nickname: Maiya, MasterMind
Profession: Sri Lankan Cricketer (Batsman)
Nature on the Field: Calm
Monthly Income: Under review
Source of Income: Cricket
Birth Country: Sri Lanka
Mahela Jayawardene Physical Status:
Height: 1.73m
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Weight: in kilograms- 71 Kg
Body measurements: Chest: 40 inches – Waist: 32 inches – Biceps: 13 inches
Eye colour: Dark Brown
Hair colour: Black
Mahela Jayawardene Personal Life:
Date of Birth: 27 May 1977
Place of Birth: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Nationality: Sri Lankan
School: Not Known
College: Nalanda College, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Highest Educational Qualifications: Not known
Zodiac Sign: Gemini
Religion: Buddhism
Hobbies: Travelling, Watching Movies
Mahela Jayawardene Family Statistics
Mother’s name: Sunila Jayawardene
Father’s Name: Senerath Jayawardene
Siblings Name: Late Dhishal Jayawardene (Brother)
Children’s Name: Sanasa Araya Jayawardene (Daughter)
Spouse Name: Christina Mallika
Mahela Jayawardene Achievements
- Jayawardene captained his school’s Under-13 team, and his performance there earned him a debut for the Sinhalese Sports Club in 1995. He made it to the Sri Lankan Test squad after scoring four centuries in 1997-98.
- Mahela was appointed captain of the Test and One-Day International teams in 2006 when he established the record for the highest individual Test score for a Sri Lankan cricketer with 374 against South Africa.
- In the same match, Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara put on the highest partnership for any wicket in Test cricket, putting on 624 runs. Sangakkara successfully completed with a total of 287 points.
- Mahela hit an exceptional century against India in the final of the 2011 ICC 50-over World Cup, but his blow was in vain, as Sri Lanka lost successive finals of the showpiece tournament.
- Mahela Jayawardene was also nominated as the best test player in 2007.
Here are some of the lesser-known facts about Mahela Jayawardene
- Mahela had a super young brother named Dhishal, who died as a result of cancer. After his sibling’s early demise, the 16-year-old was deeply disturbed and decided to take a break from cricket. Jayawardene thus became the main campaigner for the Hope Cancer Project in Sri Lanka in remembrance of his beloved brother.
- Jayawardene attended Nalanda College in Colombo. His father, who decided to take him to Nondescripts Cricket Club in Cinnamon Garden, sparked his curiosity in cricket. In 1994, he successfully led the Nalanda College cricket team.
- Mahela Jayawardene made his test debut for Sri Lanka against India in 1997. His first test was unforgettable because Sri Lanka scored the maximum ever Test score of 952 runs while batting for 271 overs and losing 6 wickets. In the match, he scored 66 runs off 105 balls.
- With Muttiah Muralitharan, the Colombo-born player has been engaged in the most sackings in test cricket history, having taken 72 catches in his ball.
- The Sri Lankan cult hero has also largely influenced the T20 World Cup. He has scored 1016 runs in 31 matches, the most by any batsman in T20I.
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