![Kumar Sangakkara's father passed away on March 3 [Source: AkhilaSene97/X.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1772532455658_KumarSangakkarafather.jpg?type=hq)
Kumar Sangakkara's father passed away on March 3 [Source: AkhilaSene97/X.com]
March 3 in Kandy marked a sad day for the former Sri Lanka captain, Kumar Sangakkara and his family after the news of his father, Kshema, emerged. Sangakkara was currently on the commentary duties of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026; however, was based at home, within the family’s reach.
Kshema Sangakkara was a renowned Civil Lawyer in Kandy, and the Kandy Bar Association also posted a heartfelt obituary for the senior attorney-at-law. The funeral date and time were also revealed, as the family shall wait for the loved ones to see him for the last time.
Kumar Sangakkara’s father passes away
In the obituary from the Kandy Bar Association, they gave condolences to his surviving wife Kumarie Sangakkara, daughters, Thusahri Wijemanne and Suranga Weerasooriya and sons Vemindra and Kumar Sangakkara.
The last rites will be held at the Mahaiyawa Crematorium on March 4, at 6 PM (local time) in Kandy. Currently, his remains lie at his home in Kandy for the friends and family to pay their respects, while the family asks for privacy as they mourn his death.
He was a highly regarded legal practitioner in Kandy and was admired in the Kandy legal community for his work.
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Sangakkara’s father’s role in his career
It is also known that Kshema Sangakkara took a lot of interest in the southpaw’s cricket and was also his first coach. The player had once revealed that his father would give him tennis ball throwdowns for hours in the backyard, shaping the discipline that the player was known for and instilling values early on in his career.
He famously narrated ESPNcricinfo that during his practice sessions as a kid, Kshema would make the visitors wait at his apartment in Kandy, saying, “Let them wait. They have come to see me. I can't see them until I've finished working with my son.”
In 2002, when Sri Lanka toured Pakistan, the young Sangakkara had scored 230 (327) at number 3 against a bowling attack consisting of captain Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar, among others. His father's reaction at the end of the day was, ” You batted like a donkey.”
Sangakkara’s father’s reflection on son's legendary career
After an illustrious career, where he played 404 ODIs for 14234 runs, 134 Tests, scoring 12400 runs and 56 T20Is, scoring 1382 runs, Sangakkara hung his boots in 2015. He had also won the 2014 T20 World Cup.
However, according to his father, Kumar Sangakkara failed to live up to his potential. The father felt his son could have joined the league of batters like Don Bradman, who scored a double hundred in every three innings.
“I have always been his harshest critic, and he knows about it all too well. For the world, Kumar was this venerated technician. But in my opinion, he never reached that level. He could have done so much better with the skills he had.
“Everybody speaks about his average being in the same league as Graeme Pollock and Garry Sobers, but Kumar could have done better. He too often lets bowlers dismiss him rather than having to get him out. Kumar did well, don’t get me wrong. But did he achieve his true potential? I don’t think so,” he told the Indian Express in 2015.
Following Sangakkara senior’s last rites on Wednesday, Kumar Sangakkara, who is now among the prominent experts and coaches around the world, will join the Rajasthan Royals camp ahead of IPL 2026. He has recently rejoined the RR setup, replacing Rahul Dravid as the head coach.
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