Mahela Jayawardene

Mahela Jayawardene is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who is widely considered one of the greatest batsmen of all time. He is known for his elegant strokeplay, impeccable technique, and astute captaincy. Apart from his exploits on the cricket field, Jayawardene is also known for his philanthropic work, luxurious lifestyle, and coaching career.

Personal Life:

Mahela Jayawardene was inborn May 27, 1977, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He grew up in a cricket-loving family and started playing the sport at a young age. His father, Senerath Jayawardene, was a lawyer and a former president of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board. Mahela studied at Nalanda College in Colombo, where he excelled in both academics and sports.

Jayawardene is married to Christina Mallika Sirisena, and the couple has two children. They have been married since 2005 and are known to be a private and reserved couple. Jayawardene is known to be a family-oriented person and spends most of his free time with his wife and children.

Charity Works:

Apart from his cricketing exploits, Mahela Jayawardene is also known for his philanthropic work. He is the founder of the Mahela Jayawardene Foundation, a charitable organization that aims to support underprivileged children in Sri Lanka. The foundation provides educational and sporting opportunities to children who cannot afford them.

Jayawardene is also a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka. In this role, he works to promote sustainable development and reduce poverty in the country. He has also been involved in various other charitable activities, including fundraising for cancer patients and supporting disaster relief efforts.

Lifestyle:

Mahela Jayawardene is known for his luxurious lifestyle and love for the finer things in life. He is a connoisseur of wine and has an extensive collection of vintage wines from around the world. He is also a foodie and appreciates trying out the latest restaurants and cuisines. Jayawardene is known to be a fashion icon in Sri Lanka and is often seen wearing designer clothes and accessories.

Jayawardene is also an avid traveler and has visited many countries around the world. He enjoys exploring new cultures and experiencing new things. He has a keen interest in history and architecture and often visits museums and historical sites.

Coaching Career:

After retiring from cricket, Mahela Jayawardene embarked on a coaching career. He was appointed as the batting coach of the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2017. In his first season, he helped the team win the IPL title, and he has since become a regular fixture in the team's coaching staff.

Jayawardene has also been involved in coaching the Sri Lankan national team. In 2019, he was appointed as the head coach of the team, but he resigned from the position after just one year, citing personal reasons. He has since been involved in coaching various T20 franchises around the world, including the Khulna Tigers in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and the Delhi Capitals in the IPL.

Jayawardene is known for his astute tactical knowledge and his ability to get the best out of his players. He is highly respected in the cricketing community and is considered one of the most promising young coaches in the world.

Mahela Jayawardene is a former Sri Lankan cricketer and one of the most successful captains in the history of Sri Lankan cricket. He led the Sri Lankan cricket team in two separate stints, from 2006 to 2009 and from 2012 to 2013, and is known for his tactical acumen, calm demeanor, and ability to inspire his team.

Captaincy:

Mahela Jayawardene's first stint as captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team began in 2006 when he was appointed to lead the team in the Test format. He took over from Marvan Atapattu, who resigned from the captaincy following a poor run of results. Jayawardene's first assignment as captain was a tour of England, where he led Sri Lanka to a historic Test series victory.

Under Jayawardene's captaincy, Sri Lanka achieved a number of notable victories, including a Test series win against South Africa in 2006 and a tri-series victory in Australia in 2008. He also led Sri Lanka to the final of the 2007 World Cup, where they lost to Australia in a one-sided match.

Jayawardene's second stint as captain began in 2012, following the resignation of Tillakaratne Dilshan. He took over as captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team across all formats and led the team to a series of impressive performances, including a Test series win against England in 2014 and a runner-up finish in the 2012 World Twenty20.

Jayawardene is widely regarded as one of the most successful captains in Sri Lankan cricket history. He is known for his strategic acumen, his ability to inspire his teammates, and his calm demeanor under pressure.

Early and Domestic Career:

Mahela Jayawardene began his cricketing career at a young age and quickly established himself as one of the most promising young players in Sri Lanka. He made his first-class debut for Sinhalese Sports Club in 1995 and quickly made a name for himself as a talented and stylish batsman.

Jayawardene's international career began in 1997 when he made his debut for the Sri Lankan cricket team in a one-day international against Zimbabwe. He made an immediate impact, scoring a half-century in his first match, and went on to establish himself as one of the most consistent performers in the Sri Lankan team.

Jayawardene's early career was marked by a number of impressive performances, including a century against India in the 1999 World Cup and a double century against Zimbabwe in 2004. He also established himself as a world-class fielder, known for his agility and athleticism in the field.

Retirement:

Mahela Jayawardene announced his retirement from international cricket in 2014, following the completion of Sri Lanka's tour of England. He retired as one of the most successful cricketers in Sri Lankan history, with over 11,000 runs in both Test and one-day international cricket.

In conclusion, Mahela Jayawardene is one of the most talented and successful cricketers to have ever played for Sri Lanka. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of his generation, with a batting style that was both stylish and effective.

Jayawardene's success on the field is matched by his character off the field, where he is known for his humility, grace, and commitment to charitable causes. He has been a tireless advocate for the promotion of cricket in Sri Lanka and has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of underprivileged children through his charitable foundation.

As a captain, Jayawardene was a true leader and tactician, known for his calm and collected demeanor under pressure. He inspired his teammates to perform at their best and led Sri Lanka to a number of historic victories, both at home and abroad.

Jayawardene's retirement from cricket was a bittersweet moment for Sri Lankan cricket fans, who will always remember him as one of the country's greatest-ever players. His contributions to the game of cricket, both as a player and as a captain, have cemented his place in the history of Sri Lankan cricket and have earned him the honor and commendation of cricket fans around the world.