Kumar Sangakkara : Cricketing romantic
M V Muhsin
A more determined romantic is hard to find. He totally immerses
himself in his mission. And his vision compels him to win any prize he
sets his eyes on.
He has two heart throbs. His wife Yehali and the other Cricket! The
affair started when she was at the Hillwood College hostel in Kandy.
Kumar Sangakkara gliding a ball. Picture by Kamal Jayamanna |
The school’s conservatism made it near impossible to permeate the
purdah-like restrictions which were imposed on boarders.
Even at that time Kumar knew how to spot the gaps, and they would
meet somehow, somewhere! And then she had to move to Colombo while Kumar
remained in Kandy.
That did not deter him. Those were days in his ‘A Level’ years when
the students were less regimented at Trinity.
He would ostensibly leave his home at Louise Peiris Mawatha very
early in the morning, dressed in starched white school uniform after
seeking blessings from his parents.
Sangakkara |
And then the diversion: he gets down at the Market Bus Stand and
takes the Kandy-Colombo bus, gets to Colombo, spends some fleeting
moments with Yehali and by noon time hits the road back to Kandy-in time
for cricket practices at Asgiriya! He would plead with his Head Prefect
Chandana Abeywardena : “Machan if something happens when I am in Colombo
on Misson Y , cover up for me!” If that’s not commitment to the two
forces in his life, tell me what is?
He did not go looking for his other love. He was initially better
known as a tennis player renowned for powerful backhand shots. Coach
Upananda Jayasundera would marvel at his natural technique.
Soon his second love cricket came looking for him! His father Kshena
Sangakkara Attorney At Law made the introduction, while Mom Kumari
initially wanted him to focus on studies and not allow love-life,
however defined, to interfere.
It did not take her long to relent as she saw that the son was broad
shouldered enough to multi-task, egged on by Trinity’s Principal Lt.
Col. Leonard de Alwis. And the result: Kumar captained Trinity cricket,
continued his tennis, and acquitted himself very well in the rounded
education that the school provides. And for his distinctive leadership
he ended up as Head Prefect and Best All-rounder and winner of the
coveted Ryde Gold Medal.
This was also when coaches Sunil Fernando, an ex Anthonian and the
renowned Bertie Wijesinghe, an ex Thomian who was then on Trinity’s
staff, took Kumar under their wing. Also attracted to this venture were
the late TK Hannan, and Harold Ranasinghe who can also justifiably claim
credit.
With such a battery of coaching power the electrifying current of the
finest of cricket techniques flowed through Kumar’s veins. It does so
even to this day. We shall ruminate a bit about his stellar
accomplishments in cricket later. But given today’s epic World Cup
final, let’s rewind and take our minds back to last year’s India-Sri
Lanka match played in Colombo.
One may not recall the detailed outcome, but etched in my memory is
how Kumar punished Indian bowling with a swashbuckling 90. Punished may
not be the right word; hammered may be better; even better is clobbered
or bludgeoned.
He scored his 50 in 46 balls, and overall notched 7 boundaries and 3
sixes off some of India’s best bowlers. His strokes had a combination of
all those emotions I refer to, in how he handled the array of half
volleys, the good line of length, and even the yorkers.
He cleared the ground picking his spots - with a repertoire of mighty
hits, one of them in the following sequence: Boundary, Six, Boundary and
Boundary ....Ouch! And yet there was no seeming brutality in the way he
hit.
It was with grace, well timed and with a technique that made it all
look so natural! That was just a year ago. And now he is at a different
park that is the Wankhede Stadium Mumbai.
A different setting where he takes on the Indian team powered by
30,000+ Indian fans. Will Sangakkara deal with the pressure with
equanimity? You can count on him!
When he was asked after the semi finals who he would prefer to play
India or Pakistan, his reply was characteristically nonchalant: it
really does not matter -WE are there to take them on! The use of WE is
not accidental.
Here is a man ranked as Number 1 Test batsman in the world several
times. To his credit he has 24 Test centuries.
And in ODI’s he has 11 ODI centuries and carries 15 Man of the Match
awards. He is at the top of the cricketing career. Yet he always talks
of the ‘WE’.
His achievements have not gone to his head. You could see this on the
field. He often consults and concedes to the advice of vice captain
Mahela Jayawardene, and seeks at times input as needed from the likes of
Murali, Mahela, Malinga and Dilshan. But he decides quickly, firmly,
fairly and rightly.
That’s the hallmark of this born leader. And you could also see this
in his ESPN interview after the NZ match where in perfect Sinhalese he
took the opportunity to thank the nation for their support and
faith.adding WE will do our best.
While his brilliance in batting, wisdom in field setting, astuteness
in leadership is now part of the country’s folk lore, one tends to lose
sight of his feats as a wicket keeper: always watchful, ready to leap,
dart, and catch and to flick the bails with dizzying speed. Again an all
rounder of rare class.
Rarer still are giants like him whose unbelievable talent is only
matched by the size of his heart.
In his efforts to give back to society the huge debt he says he owes,
he involves himself and generously supports a host of well deserving
philanthropic initiatives which also includes serving as a Global
Ambassador for AIDS prevention. And to his Alma Mater he founded the
Cricket Foundation-no wonder that this year’s Trinity team had a winning
streak not seen in over half a century and more. But let’s end where we
began. Here is formidable leader who has unrelenting commitment to
succeed. Getting the best out of his team and motivating them is his
talisman for success.
He pursues his goals with an infectious passion. And one can count on
him to deliver on the destiny of his dreams that only a romantic like
him could. |