Angelo Mathews says, “I am overwhelmed by the love I’ve received,” as he says goodbye to Tests

In the opening match of the series against Bangladesh, experienced Sri Lankan player Angelo Mathews played his final Test match at Galle International Stadium, where he made his debut in 2009. With 2,253 runs from 34 Test matches, the former Sri Lankan captain finished as the venue’s second-highest run scorer, leaving a magnificent legacy.

Getting 400 runs in the first innings puts a team in a strong position and makes it hard to lose, Angelo Mathews said about the match. Najmul Hossain Shanto, the captain of Bangladesh, received appreciation from him for his exceptional performance throughout the game. Shanto was named Player of the Match after leading from the front with 148 in the first innings and an undefeated 125 in the second.

It’s really hard to lose a game after hitting 400 in the first inning. Therefore, we also needed to bat really effectively in our opening innings. I believed that in order to reduce the lead, we scraped our way through. Additionally, Shanto batted wonderfully in the second innings,” Angelo Mathews stated during the post-match presentation.

Although there was little turn, the star cricketer said that the wicket was difficult for bowlers and that the pitch did not provide them with much help overall.

To be honest, the bowlers had a difficult wicket. Sometimes it turned somewhat, but the bowlers didn’t really get anything out of it. “Unfortunately, we were unable to push for a victory,” he continued.

I would love to finish with a World Cup victory: Angelo Mathews

Angelo Mathews has announced his intention to concentrate on the 2026 T20 World Cup and has moved away from red-ball cricket. He acknowledged the significance of managing his body at this point in his career and said he would like to end the game with another World Cup title. He also played a significant role in the Sri Lankan team’s victory over India in the 2014 T20 World Cup final.

“I have six months left to go.” I’ll try my hardest for the T20 World Cup in 2026. A World Cup victory would be my ideal farewell. “I will observe my body’s reaction,” Angelo Mathews stated.

After announcing his retirement last month, the renowned all-rounder also thanked everyone for their unwavering love and support. He expressed his sincere gratitude to everyone and called the response “heartwarming.”

I’m feeling overburdened. I simply cannot fathom the amount of love I have received since I declared my retirement. It is extremely unique because, as a player, you experience an unfathomable level of gratitude after giving your all for the nation. The 38-year-old said, “I’m so grateful to all of them, and it feels so special and heartwarming.”