Cricket Legend Sanath Jayasuriya Shares Video Of His 27-year old Audi A4 [Video]

Cricket is one of the highest-paying sports in India, and almost everyone knows it. In fact, not just in India, but this holds true for most Asian countries that actively participate in the sport. Sri Lanka was and still is one of the popular teams in cricket, and many of their players were so well-known that they even had a fan following here in India. These players are often rewarded for their performance in a particular match or series. In some cases, they receive cash prizes, while in others, they are gifted expensive cars and bikes.

Sanath Jayasuriya, a popular Sri Lankan batsman, recently shared a throwback memory of receiving a car as a reward for his outstanding performance in the 1996 Cricket World Cup.

The video was shared by Newswire on their YouTube channel. In the video, we see an image of Sanath Jayasuriya with his red-colored first-generation Audi A4 posted on his social media. On one side, he is seen posing with the brand-new Audi A4 right after it was awarded to him following the 1996 World Cup. The other half shows Jayasuriya striking the same pose with the same car almost 27 years later.

Unlike its pristine condition in the first photograph, the car now appears aged, with slightly faded paint and visible chipping on the front bumper. Given that the A4 is now 27 years old, signs of wear are expected. Still, the car seems to be in running condition and likely drivable, even if it doesn’t match the performance or appearance of a new vehicle.

Back in 1985, during the Benson & Hedges World Championship of Cricket held in Australia, Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri was awarded an Audi 100 for his outstanding performance against Pakistan. Ravi Shastri still owns the car and has had it restored to mint condition. His exceptional contributions throughout the tournament earned him the coveted reward.

Similarly, Jayasuriya was gifted the red Audi A4 for his stellar all-round performance in the 1996 World Cup, where Sri Lanka emerged victorious against Australia in the final. Jayasuriya impressed with both bat and ball, scoring 221 runs and taking seven wickets during the tournament. Following the final, he was named "Man of the Tournament" and received the Audi A4 in recognition of his achievements.

After sharing the recent photo on his Twitter account, many fans and automobile enthusiasts praised him for preserving the car so well over the decades.

The Audi A4 awarded to Jayasuriya is a first-generation model, which made its global debut in 1994. It was offered internationally with various petrol engines, ranging from a 1.6-litre four-cylinder to a 2.8-litre V6, as well as a 1.9-litre four-cylinder diesel option.

However, the exact engine variant in Jayasuriya’s car is unknown. Notably, this version of the A4 was never officially launched in India. The first officially available A4 in the Indian market was the third-generation model, introduced in 2005.