Kumar Sangakkara Not Sri Lanka's Most Influential Cricketer, it's Arjuna Ranatunga: Muralitharan

Come the decisive third Test against India at Colombo's Sinhalese Cricket Club on Friday (August 28), Sri Lanka cricket will take fresh guard. Kumar Sangakkara was the last chip of the old block that included three of the greatest Sri Lankan cricketers of the 21st century - Muttiah Muralitharan, Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene.(Kohli Salutes Sangakkara)

Sangakkara played his last Test match - at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo - on Thursday. He had quit ODIs at the end of the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Sangakkara's exit means Sri Lanka will now be on a truly transitional phase. Angelo Mathews will have a massive load to carry forward.

Sri Lanka Cricket gave Sangakkara an emotional farewell on Monday. A Test match against India only made it more special. From cricket's point of view, the swansong wasn't a fairytale as India won by a massive 278 runs to level the series and Sangakkara failed to convert starts in his last two innings.(Gavaskar Hails Sangakkara)

Sangakkara left behind a slew of batting records and a rich legacy good enough to inspire the next generation, but he may not have been the most influential cricketer Sri Lanka produced.('Sangakkara Messy, Want him Back Home')

Sangakkara finished his 134-Test career with 12,400 runs with a 57-plus average. It puts him fifth in the list of highest Test run scorers, while the 14,000-plus runs he scored in 404 one-dayers, places the 38-year-old second in the 50-over list - after Sachin Tendulkar. "Not the most influential, Kumar certainly was the most consistent," said Muralitharan.(Sangakkara Felicitated by BCCI)

Sangakkara made his Test debut 15 years ago as a shy stumper-batsman against South Africa at Galle, entering a dressing room that contained big names including Arjuna Ranatunga, Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan.(Sangakkara to be High Commissioner to UK?)

In Jayawardene, he soon found a friend. Born five months apart, their partnership on field was often the foundation on which Sri Lanka built their innings.(Sangakkara a Terrific Player: Gilchrist)

A law student with a gift of the gab, Sangakkara could easily get under the opposition's skin but the 2012 ICC Cricketer of the Year never crossed the line.(ICC Hails Sangakkara)

Like Jayawardene, Sangakkara wanted to quit international cricket soon after the World Cup but was urged to stay on, helping the side under Angelo Mathews as they embarked on a tricky transition.('Sangakkara's Retirement Will Hit Sri Lanka Hard')

Sangakkara, who has scored 63 international centuries, agreed to play four Tests, two each against Pakistan and India. His fans desperately wanted him to score one more double century to equal Don Bradman's record of 12. But that was not to be.(Gavaskar Welcomes Sangakkara to Retired 'Club')

Sangakkara, the quintessential gentleman cricketer, was not exactly a "yes" man. The former captain had his run-ins with the establishment and was never afraid to speak his mind during disputes.(Mathews Sad Lanka Couldn't Win for Sangakkara)

A man, whose loyalty to the nation was once questioned by overzealous administrators, was offered the role of a diplomat in the UK by none other than the country's President. Not even the legendary Muralitharan, a Tamilian whose contribution to the society during the times of the Lankan civil war made the world sit up, was offered such a position.(Sangakkara Hails Family's Support)

At least statistically, Sangakkara was the greatest batsman Sri Lanka ever produced, but was he the most influential cricketer ever?

Muralitharan, widely regarded as the man who spun Sri Lankan cricket to the zenith with his record 800 Test wickets, feels it was Ranatunga who had the greatest influence on Lankan cricket and more importantly, it's character.

Sri Lanka won the 1996 World Cup under Ranatunga. The left-handed top-order batsman was the man who transformed a gifted but timid side into a world beating unit that looked the opposition in the eye and had the mental ability to turn up on the big days.

From an introvert bunch that barely attracted crowds - Lanka had some of the best batsmen in Aravinda 'Mad Max' De Silva, Roy Dias and Duleep Mendis in their ranks in the 90s - Sri Lanka's public profile rose under Ranatunga's intelligent and aggressive leadership.

At a time when the world kneeled in front of the might of 'Whites', Ranatunga, whose career with the national side began in 1982, dared to fight right inside the lion's den. His warrior-like mentality steadily rubbed onto his teammates and on January 23, 1999 in Adelaide, when Ranatunga walked off the pitch protesting against Australian umpire Ross Emerson's decision to call Muralitharan for chucking the ball (against England in a ODI), there was enough evidence that he would back his players at any cost.

Arjuna Ranatunga along with Richard Hadlee with the 2015 World Cup trophy.

© ICC

"Arjuna made us believe in ourselves. He did it for two decades. We owe a lot to him. He helped us become a force in world cricket. He is definitely the most influential cricketer Sri Lanka ever produced," Muralitharan said on air on Monday, without belittling Sangakkara's contribution.

"Kumar was a perfectionist. Coaches hated him because he would keep batting for two hours during nets. But I would reckon Mahela was the most talented we ever had," Muralitharan said, adding: "Aravinda and Sanath redefined the way cricket was played ...very difficult to replace them."

Ranatunga was the only man who played Sri Lanka's first and 100th Test, but his tactics in limited overs cricket changed the way Sri Lanka approached ODIs. Under him, Jayasuriya became the most dreaded ODI opener while Muralitharan spun his magic on any kind of wicket.

Ranatunga's popularity was not limited to the cricket field. He ran the cricket Board and even went on to become a politician. He not only won votes but showed cricketers the path to stardom. Sangakkara still has some miles to go.

(With agency inputs)