PERSONAL INFORMATION
Real Name: Muttiah Muralitharan
Nicknames: Murali, Mumu, The Smiling Assassin, Master Technician, Don Bradman of Bowling
Profession: Cricketer
Date of Birth: 17 April 1972
Age (as of 2023): 51 Years
Birthplace: Nattarampotha, Kandy (Sri Lanka)
Zodiac sign/Sun sign: Aries
Nationality: Sri Lankan
Hometown: Kandy, Sri Lanka
Religion: Hinduism
Caste: Backward Class (BC)
Food Habit: Non-Vegetarian
Marriage Date: 21 March 2005
EDUCATION
School: St Anthony’s College, Kandy
College/University: Not Known
Educational Qualification: Not Known
PHYSICAL STATISTICS
Height (approx.): in centimeters – 170 cm in meters – 1.70 m in feet inches – 5’ 7”
Weight (approx.): in kilograms – 70 kg in pounds – 154 lbs
Body Measurements (approx.): – Chest: 40 inches – Waist: 32 inches – Biceps: 14 inches
Eye Colour: Black
Hair Colour: Black
FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS
Marital Status: Married
Affairs/Girlfriends: Not Known
Wife/Spouse: R Madhi Malar
Children: Son – Naren Daughter – Krisha
Parents: Father – Sinnasamy Muttiah (businessman) Mother – Lakshmi Muttiah
Siblings: Brothers – Three Sister – Not Known
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
International Debut: ODI – 12 August 1993, Sri Lanka v India at Colombo (RPS) Test – 28 August 1992, Sri Lanka v Australia at Colombo (RPS) T20 – 22 December 2006, New Zealand v Sri Lanka at Wellington
Awards/Honours: • Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World 2000 • Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World 2006 • Ada Derana Sri Lankan of the Year 2017
MONEY FACTOR
Car Collection: Kia Rio
Salary: Not Known
Net Worth (approx.): ₹52 crore 10 lakh ($8 million)
OTHER INFORMATION
Jersey Number: #800 (Sri Lanka)
Domestic/State Teams: Sri Lanka, Kandurata, Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club
Coach/Mentor: Sunil Fernando
Records (main ones): • Most career wickets in tests with 800 (average- 22.72) in 133 matches • Most career wickets in ODIs with 534 (average- 23.08) in 350 matches • Most ‘Man of the Series’ trophies (11) in test cricket • Single player to get 50+ wickets against every test playing country • 16 March 2004 – Youngest bowler in the world to get 500 wickets • Only player to grab at least ten wickets against every test-playing nation • Only bowler to get over 75 wickets in a single year during- 2000, 2001 and 2006 • First wrist off-spinner in the cricket history
Address: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Favourite Cricketers: Batsmen – Sachin Tendulkar , Virender Sehwag , Brian Lara Bowlers – Shane Warne , Anil Kumble , Daniel Vettori , Saqlain Mushtaq, Harbhajan Singh
Favourite Food: Chinese, seafood, fish, South Indian chicken curry, rice and curry
Favourite Actors: S. Chandrasekar (Tamil actor), Rajinikanth
Favourite Colour: Blue
INTERESTING BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Mutttiah Muralitharan’s journey began with his grandfather, Periyasamy Sinasamy, who made a significant move from South India to Central Sri Lanka in 1920. This shift laid the groundwork for a rich heritage that would eventually influence Muralitharan’s life and career. Growing up, he showed a keen interest in sports, initially playing rugby during his school years. However, it was cricket that would become his true calling. At just 14 years old, while representing his school, he showcased his extraordinary talent by winning the coveted title of ‘Bata Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year’ for the 1990/91 season, a notable achievement that foreshadowed his future success in the sport.
In 1991, Muralitharan made a pivotal decision that would steer the course of his career. Selected for the Sri Lanka-A tour of England, he chose to leave school and join the prestigious Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club. This move was a defining moment, as it marked the beginning of his professional cricketing journey. His performances in the years that followed were remarkable, as he claimed 1374 wickets in 232 first-class matches at an impressive average of 19.64. His skill was further highlighted in the T20 format, where he took 13 wickets over 12 matches, maintaining an average of 22.84, showcasing his versatility across different formats of the game.
Muralitharan’s prowess on the cricket field reached new heights in January 1998 during a Test match against England, where he achieved his career-best figures of 16 wickets for 220 runs. This achievement cemented his status as one of the finest bowlers in the history of cricket. His exceptional performances continued, as he garnered 53 wickets in 31 World Cup matches spanning the tournaments of 1996, 1999, 2003, and 2007. Notably, he became the fastest bowler to take 400 wickets during a Test against Zimbabwe in Galle, a record that further solidified his legacy in the sport. By April 9, 2002, he had also reached the prestigious fourth ranking in the LG ICC best-ever ODI bowling ratings with a remarkable score of 913.
After a remarkable career, Muralitharan announced his retirement from Test cricket on July 7, 2010, followed by his retirement from international cricket later that year. His contributions extended beyond the pitch when, on August 1, 2015, he was appointed as the Brand Ambassador for the ‘Presidential Task Force’ to combat kidney disease by the President of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena. Beyond cricket, Muralitharan enjoys crispy duck and milk chocolate, and he shares a close bond with cricketing legends Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, who are counted among his best friends. Notably, he is the only cricketer of Indian origin to represent Sri Lanka at the international level and has also acquired Overseas Citizenship of India, reflecting his unique heritage and the impact of his family’s journey on his life and career.
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Note: All biographical information compiled from publicly available sources.