Mahela Jayawardene

Full Name: Denagamage Proboth Mahela de Silva Jayawardene
Nickname: Maiya
Date of Birth: May 27, 1977
Age: 47 years (as of April 2025)
Place of Birth: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Nationality: Sri Lankan
Religion: Buddhism
Profession: Former Professional Cricketer, Coach
Batting Style: Right-handed
Bowling Style: Right-arm medium
Role in Team: Top-order Batsman
Net Worth: Estimated $12–15 million (USD)

Early Life and Background

On May 27, 1977, Mahela Jayawardene was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, into a family that valued education and support. Mahela has a strong interest in sports, particularly cricket, from a young age. He attended Nalanda College, one of the best schools in Colombo, which has produced a number of elite cricket players from Sri Lanka.

Mahela began as a quick bowler but eventually his batting prowess overwhelmed his bowling ability. He developed into a dependable top-order batsman with a sophisticated style and keen cricketing intellect. He demonstrated innate leadership skills and a keen sense of tactical planning in 1994 while serving as captain of his school’s cricket team.

The death of his younger brother Dhishal from cancer was a devastating turning point in his early years. His outlook on life and cricket was influenced by this intensely personal tragedy, which also strengthened his character and gave him an emotional maturity that is unusual for a young person.

Domestic Career

In 1995, Mahela joined the Sinhalese Sports Club to play cricket domestically. He was recognised as a player with classical technique and a temperament appropriate for lengthy innings from his early club cricket days. Because of his steady results on the home circuit, national selectors took notice of him right away.

He established himself as a regular in the Sinhalese Sports Club lineup throughout the years and played for a number of teams in international tournaments, such as English county cricket. His international career was built on his local form, and even after excelling at the highest levels, he frequently returned to help out with Sri Lankan domestic cricket.

International Career

On August 2, 1997, Mahela played his first Test match at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo against India. Mahela, who was only 20 at the time, contributed a calm 66 runs to Sri Lanka’s world-record total of 952/6 in the historic match. The next year, on January 24, 1998, he played his first One-Day International match against Zimbabwe.

He developed into one of the best batters of his generation during his international career. One of the rare players to reach 10,000 runs in all forms, Jayawardene amassed over 11,814 Test and 12,650 ODI runs. His greatest Test score, 374 against South Africa in 2006, is still a national record and the best ever by a right-handed batter.

His illustrious 624-run partnership with Kumar Sangakkara, the greatest partnership in Test cricket history, is another reason for his notoriety.

In a number of international competitions, Mahela captained Sri Lanka. In his capacity as captain, he led the squad to the ICC World T20 final in 2009, the World Cup final in 2007, and the ICC World T20 final in 2012. Additionally, he played a significant role in the team that finally won a major ICC title in 2014 when they won the ICC World Twenty20.

IPL & T20 Franchise Career

Mahela played in T20 leagues all over the world, but his accomplishments in international and Test cricket are what made him most famous. He represented clubs like Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Delhi Daredevils, and Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League (IPL). His leadership, composure under duress, and strategic thinking made him an invaluable asset, even though he wasn’t as dominant in the shorter format.

He transitioned into coaching after retirement and rose to prominence as one of franchise cricket’s most successful instructors. The Mumbai Indians won several IPL championships when he was their head coach, demonstrating his tactical skill and capacity to develop new players.

Playing Style

Mahela Jayawardene was well known for his graceful and traditional batting approach. He was a right-hander with good technique who valued time more than force. Cricket fans all across the world adored his late cuts, flicks, and cover drives.

Mahela was a superb slip fielder and was considered to be among the greatest in that position in addition to being a talented hitter. In Test cricket, he made more than 200 catches while frequently fielding at short positions and in the slips.

He was a calm, collected captain who felt that setting an example was important. He was one of the most admired leaders in international cricket because of his strategic thinking and in-depth knowledge of the game.

Personal Life

Mahela Jayawardene has experienced both happiness and sorrow in her personal life. His younger brother’s death when he was a toddler had a profound impact on him and subsequently motivated him to advocate for children’s health and cancer awareness.

Sansa Arya Jayawardene is the daughter of Mahela’s first marriage to Christina Mallika Sirisena. Later, in 2018, the couple got divorced. He wed flight attendant Natasha Makalanda in 2021. The pair leads a quiet, private life together, avoiding the spotlight most of the time.

Mahela is quite active in charitable efforts off the pitch. He helped raise money and awareness for cancer treatment in Sri Lanka by co-founding the “Hope Cancer Project.” In an effort to promote cricket at the local level, he also participates in a number of youth development initiatives and academies.

Legacy and Future Prospects

In addition to his accomplishments and records, Mahela Jayawardene left behind a vast legacy for his class, humility, and dedication to the game. He is regarded as a genuine advocate for cricket and one of the best Sri Lankan players of all time.

He has moved smoothly into coaching, commentary, and mentoring positions after retiring. His time as head coach of the Mumbai Indians is among the most prosperous in IPL history. He continues to lead the national setup and serves as a strategic advisor for Sri Lanka Cricket as well.

Whether in development committees, commentator boxes, or coaching dugouts, he is still one of the most important voices in cricket worldwide as of 2025.