Kumar Chokshanada Sangakkara, popular as Kumar Sangakkara, is one of the finest cricketers of Sri Lanka, who represented the country from 2000 to 2015. Born on October 27, 1977, in Matale, Central Province, Kumar is the youngest among the three elder siblings. His father was keen on sports and would coach him and his siblings for hours.
Kumar was initially known as one of the best tennis players in school and was renowned for powerful backhand shots. Although he was good at almost every sport, it was his school’s principal who asked him to focus on cricket. Sangakkara began his professional career in 1997–99, when was 20. In 1999, Sangakkara was selected for the Sri Lankan team. It was at that point, the cricketer, who was pursuing a degree in the Faculty of Law, decided to quit his course to pursue cricket.
A former captain in all formats, Sangakkara is regarded as one of the greatest wicket-keepers and batters in the history of cricket. In 2015, Kumar Sangakkara retired from cricket and began working as a commentator. He became the coach of Rajasthan Royals in IPL from 2021 to 2024.
Cricket has always been Kumar Sangakkara’s love, however, the other love of his life is his wife, Yehali, who has been with him through thick and thin. From cheering for him through the stands to being his biggest critic, Yehali is his best half. Kumar and Yehali’s love story began years back when they were in school. Let us read on to know more about it.
Kumar Sangakkara would overcome restrictions in school to meet Yehali
Kumar Sangakkara studied at Trinity College, an Anglican boy’s school located in Kandy. Yehali, on the other side, studied at The Hillwood College in Kandy, which was an all-girl’s school. There were many restrictions and despite all that, Kumar, who was smitten by Yehali, would often spot the gaps and would meet her.
Kumar Sangakkara would skip classes to meet Yehali
After some time, Yehali shifted to Colombo, but that didn’t deter Kumar’s spirit, who would take a specific route to Colombo to meet Yehali. He would leave his home, divert his route, get down at the Market Bus Stand and take the Kandy-Colombo bus to spend time with Yehali.
Not just this, to meet his love, Yehali, Kumar would request his head prefect to let him skip a class or two so that he could meet Yehali and return to Asgiriya Stadium for practice. One of his old friends recalled the same and stated that the cricketer would tell his Prefect:
“Machan if something happens when I am in Colombo on Misson Y, cover up for me!”
From writing poetry to buying Rs. 100 payphone cards
Kumar was a brilliant student and had an unabashed love for English poetry. When his love for Yehali bloomed, he wrote her letters with beautiful poetry in them. Once, Yehali recalled the same and stated that he wrote a book of poems for her. Not only this, Kumar was so much in love with Yehali that he would buy Rs. 100 payphone cards daily to call her when she shifted to Colombo.
Kumar’s friend, Dharshana Senarath recalled the lengths he would go to woo his ladylove and said:
“The way I knew how much he really liked her was because every day he would buy one of those 100-rupee payphone cards to call her. I don’t think he could call her from his house at that time. Even sometime after that, when she had moved to Colombo, sometimes he would travel from Kandy to Colombo to drop off a gift for her and go back, just for that.”
Yehali has been the most supportive partner of Kumar Sangakkara
Kumar Sangakkara and Yehali got married in 2003 and are parents to twins, Swyree and Kavith. Today when wives and girlfriends are considered as a big distraction for cricketers, Yehali never missed out a single tour and had always been spotted cheering her husband. She had been his constant support system since the day he started his career. She was also present at his farewell series.
Kumar Sangakkara and Yehali are one of the most respected couples. What do you think about their love story? Let us know.
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