Mahela Jayawardene is one of Sri Lanka’s greatest batsmen and captains, known for his elegant technique, sharp cricketing mind, and graceful stroke play. Born on May 27, 1977, in Colombo, Jayawardene played international cricket between 1997 and 2015, becoming a pillar of Sri Lanka’s batting line-up. Wearing jersey number 33, Jayawardene scored over 25,000 international runs, including 34 Test centuries and 19 ODI centuries. His ability to play under pressure, combined with his clever captaincy, helped Sri Lanka win numerous bilateral series and reach the 2007 World T20 final. Jayawardene’s most memorable innings include a majestic 374 against South Africa in 2006—the highest Test score by a Sri Lankan—and match-winning knocks in crucial matches. He formed one of the most successful batting partnerships in cricket history with Kumar Sangakkara. Post-retirement, Jayawardene has been influential as a coach and commentator, widely respected for his cricketing insights and contributions to the game’s global development.