Sanath Jayasuriya

Sri Lankan cricketer who revolutionized opening batting in ODIs and was instrumental in Sri Lanka's 1996 Cricket World Cup victory.

Sanath Jayasuriya revolutionised limited-overs cricket as Sri Lanka's explosive opening batsman, pioneering the aggressive approach to powerplay batting that is now universal in the game. He was the architect of Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup triumph, taking the tournament by storm with his fearless hitting. Also a dangerous left-arm spinner, Jayasuriya is Sri Lanka's greatest cricketing icon. Jayasuriya's blistering starts alongside Romesh Kaluwitharana redefined the opening approach in one-day cricket during the 1996 World Cup, a tactical innovation that reshaped how teams approached the powerplay overs for a generation, and he later served as Sri Lanka's chief selector and national coach.

Jayasuriya was renowned for his aggressive, attacking approach as an opening batsman, particularly in limited-overs cricket. He possessed a wide array of shots and was especially devastating through the off-side, capable of scoring quickly from the first ball. His unorthodox technique and fearless approach made him one of the pioneers of modern aggressive opening batting.

Jayasuriya revolutionized the role of opening batsmen in limited-overs cricket, proving that aggressive batting from the start could be devastatingly effective. His approach influenced a generation of cricketers and helped establish the template for modern T20 and ODI batting strategies.

• ICC Cricket World Cup 1996 (Sri Lanka)
• ICC Cricket World Cup 1996 – Player of the Tournament
• Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1997
• Asia Cup 1997 (Sri Lanka)
• Asia Cup 2004 (Sri Lanka)
• ICC World XI representative player (2005)
• Arjuna Award – Sri Lanka's highest sporting honour (2006)
• Named in ICC Cricket World Cup Team of the Tournament 1996