An Interview with Mahela Jayawardene: A Cricketing Legend on and off the Field

Kid Reporter Aarish Hirdaramani interviews former cricketer Mahela Jayawardene

For centuries, cricket has commanded a popular following within South Asia, Africa, England and the West Indies. It’s a game of strategy and skill, where two teams of eleven players each compete to score the most runs without losing their wickets— the cricket equivalent of “getting out” in baseball.  With various formats, ranging from fast-paced T20s that only last a few hours long to the test matches that can go on for 5 days, cricket is a sport that captivates spectators. 

Mahela Jayawardene is the former Captain of the Sri Lankan team who helped secure the 2014 World Cup. In addition, he holds numerous records. This includes the highest partnership in test cricket, which is when two batsmen are batting together, most runs in a single venue and most catches in a World Cup. He is also one of the few players to have scored a century in a World Cup Final. 

After a stellar career in both Sri Lankan cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL), he retired after the 2015 World Cup. In 2017, he transitioned to coaching and currently serves as the Coach of the Mumbai Indians, one of the most popular IPL teams in the world. In 2022, he was also made Head of Global Performance overseeing other global franchises.

Recently I had the privilege of speaking with Jayawardene about his cricket journey as well as the sport’s increasing global footprint. Below please find highlights from our conversation edited for clarity.

How did you get into cricket?

I think it was just playing with friends, initially, behind our backyard, there was a little ground. That's where I first started playing cricket, soft-ball cricket and then played for school— probably didn't have any ambition. But it happened.

What was your favorite moment in your career?

Well, I think my favorite moment would be when I first received my Sri Lankan Cricket Cap when I made my debut. For me, that's most memorable. The second would be winning the World Cup. That was quite something apart from losing four other World Cup finals; the one that we won was fun!

What or who inspired you to reach this level of cricket?

Well, I think a lot of people, not only cricketers but other people around - my parents, coaches and other people that I look up to as well. Others who have done well in other sports. Other cricketers of the past. 

It's not about me modeling myself to them but learning from them. My theory is that you must have your own identity. You can't be someone else. You can be the best person you can be. I think sport is a great vehicle for us to develop life skills as well.

What advice do you have for young fans? 

I think have fun, first, because when you're young, when you’re playing a sport, you have to enjoy it otherwise it doesn't work. That's number one and then no shortcuts.  It's hard work— have that discipline and open mindset to learn every day.

Do you enjoy playing or being part of the Mumbai Indian Coaching Team?

I do miss the playing part, but I think afterwards now with the coaching, I get the same adrenalin— being around the players, in the dug-out, making decisions. It’s good fun so that transition probably helps me as well. But yes, coaching is a challenge, which I'm enjoying. Like I said, everything that you do, like you should enjoy it, otherwise you're in the wrong place.

What do you think the future of cricket looks like?

Well, I think there are lots of challenges, but cricket has always evolved – now with the shorter versions of the game. Cricket is going to be in the Olympics in 2028 so that's going to be fun. Once it's in the Olympics, that means it will generate more awareness in other countries. 105 countries play cricket at the moment. I think the future is strong but still it will still be challenging on the economic scale, but the different leagues/ franchises will probably compensate for that and then you keep the volume.

Do you think cricket will become the most popular sport in the world, overtaking football?

I think it's very tough to overtake football (soccer). In the last 10 years, football has taken off to a different level. But, cricket, being the second most popular sport in the world, still has legs as long as we do we keep evolving and making it more interesting for the players as well as the fans. I think that's important.

What do you think cricket brings to the world?

Well, I think it's a different skill-sport, especially test cricket. Test matches are over 5 days; I think that's probably the only sport which has that longevity for one game. It just brings a different skill set, preparation— all of that. I think each sport brings something different for fans to enjoy but also for the players to challenge themselves. It is becoming a much more intense sport as well because of the shorter format it is being played in. I think we keep giving something different back to something different.

What plans do you have for cricket in the US?

We had two seasons of the franchise and obviously 2024’s World Cup was co-hosted by the US as well so there was a lot of interest. Over the next two to three years, you will see each of the franchises having their own stadiums so then they will get their own fan bases. We'll have a stadium in New York so that'll be exciting.  More teams will probably join the league going forward. I think there's a lot of enthusiasm around US cricket.  I think if we develop the young talent coming through from the US as well as international players coming and playing, I think it has a very strong future.