Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara made a memorable return to competitive cricket with a spectacular 168-run innings for Shillingstone Cricket Club in the third season of English village cricket. The 48-year-old batting great, who retired from international cricket in 2015 after scoring more than 26,000 international runs, impressed fans with a commanding display of strokeplay against Broadstone CC.

Sangakkara's innings featured 16 fours and 11 sixes, with 130 of his 168 runs coming through boundaries. His aggressive yet elegant batting underlined the class that made him one of the finest batters of his generation, helping Shillingstone Cricket Club register a dominant performance and drawing widespread attention across the cricketing world.

Apart from his batting heroics, Sangakkara also caught the eye for the helmet he wore during the match. The former Sri Lanka skipper was seen sporting a helmet featuring the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) logo and the Indian flag, a gift presented to him by Rajasthan Royals opener Yashasvi Jaiswal during their time together with the IPL franchise.

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Sangakkara continues to serve as the head coach of Rajasthan Royals, who reached the IPL 2026 playoffs before being knocked out by Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2. Jaiswal enjoyed another productive campaign, scoring 427 runs in 16 matches, including three half-centuries and hitting 18 sixes for the franchise.

Reflecting on Rajasthan Royals' season, Sangakkara praised captain Riyan Parag for his leadership during his first full season in charge. He described Parag's captaincy as phenomenal, highlighting his handling of on-field decisions and expressing confidence that both the young skipper and the team would continue to improve with experience.

Sangakkara also noted that few had expected Rajasthan Royals to qualify for the playoffs at the start of the season, making their campaign even more significant. He credited the team's fearless approach and enjoyment of the game for producing special performances, while his own return to the field served as another reminder of the enduring quality and passion that have defined his illustrious cricket career.

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