The Sangakkaras: Understated, Humble, Almost Poetic
Kumar Sangakkara's love affair with international cricket came one step closer to an end on Day 2 of the India-Sri Lanka Test at the P Sara Oval. But it was how Sangakkara and his partner off the field carried themselves that touched a chord.
When Yehali Sangakkara walked into the venue of her husband's final Test polite young fans were able to stop her for a second each to take a selfie. There weren't many fans, but the few that were present couldn't help but notice the better half of one of Sri Lanka's best cricketers. Yehali was wearing a peach skirt, grace was what she really wore, and a feeling of pride at her husband's achievements emanated from her body language.('Sangakkara is Extremely Messy, Want him at Home')
Later in the day when Kumar Sangakkara walked out to bat, the stadium gave him a standing ovation, the Indian team a guard of honour, and Umesh Yadav a deadly yorker.(Sangakkara's Wife Turns TV Reporter)
It was a yorker that had clean bowled written all over it. However, Sangakkara's forehead seemed to have 'not today' written all over it. He dug it out like he was a man on a mission.(Team India Gives Sangakkara Guard of Honour)
The P Sara Oval has numerous cut outs of Sangakkara saying 'a True Gentleman of the game'. While walking out to bat he acknowledged and thanked the Indian Captain Virat Kohli for the Guard of Honour by stopping and shaking Virat's hand.
Ajinkya Rahane dropped Sanga off R Ashwin on 24. But Ashwin gave Rahane another but tougher opportunity 8 runs later. Rahane didn't miss it this time. Sangakkara's mission of wanting to score a double century in his final hurrah remained incomplete as Ashwin dismissed him for the 3rd time in 3 innings this series. The penultimate or possibly final innings of a legend had come to an end.
Sangakkara walked to the pavilion without a second's pause. Only a slight movement that involved raising the bat suggested he had acknowledged the standing ovation. Yehali stood up, clapped, and sat down. Understated, humble, almost poetic. That's just the way the Sangakkaras carried themselves.