Indian team gives guard of honour to retiring Sangakkara

COLOMBO: Playing his final Test, Sri Lankan batting legend Kumar Sangakkara was today accorded a warm welcome as he walked out to bat with the rival Indian team forming a guard of honour to applaud the veteran cricketer.

Coming in to bat after the fall of opener Dimuth Karunaratne, Sangakkara jogged in at the P Sara Oval with the home team placed a 1/1 in reply to the 393 all out posted by the Indians.

The whole stadium reverberated with applause when the 37-year-old left-hander came out of the dressing room.

The standing ovation continued as Sangakkara walked past the guard of honour formed by the Indian team. The veteran shook hands with India skipper Virat Kohli before taking the crease.

Sangakkara has scored 12,350 runs with 38 centuries in 133 Tests for Sri Lanka, averaging 57.71. In his mammoth 404 ODI appearances, Sangakkara amassed 14,234 runs at an average of 41.98.

Although the series is a three-match affair, Sangakkara would be retiring at the end of this game.