Pathum Nissanka is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer. He plays all formats for the Sri Lankan cricket team. He made his international debut in March 2021 and is currently the permanent opening batsman in all three formats. On 9 February 2024, he scored an ODI double hundred and became the first Sri Lankan to achieve this feat. He made his List A debut for Hambantota District on 17 March 2017 and his T20 debut for Badureliya Sports Club on 24 February 2018.
Nissanka was named in Kandy’s squads for multiple provincial tournaments between 2018 and 2019. He was selected for the SLC Greens team in the 2021 SLC Invitational T20 League and was picked for the Colombo Stars in the 2021 Lanka Premier League draft. In July 2022, he signed with the Kandy Falcons for the Lanka Premier League. On 17 December 2023, he scored his 5th List A century with 135 off 96 balls against SSC while chasing 263 in 35 overs, but NCC lost the match by 14 runs.
Pathum Nissanka Records and Achievement
Pathum Nissanka started gaining attention in early 2019 when he was picked for Sri Lanka A against Ireland A and became the leading run-scorer with 258 runs in two matches. In the same season, he scored his 1,000th run in the 2018–19 Premier League Tournament. He finished as the leading run-scorer for Nondescripts Cricket Club with 1,088 runs in seven matches.
He was added to Sri Lanka’s squad for the 2021 T20 World Cup and scored 221 runs in eight matches, including three half-centuries. In January 2022, he was named Player of the Series against Zimbabwe after scoring 146 runs in three ODIs. In February 2022, he scored 184 runs in a five-match T20I series against Australia, setting a Sri Lankan record for most runs in a T20I series against them.
In the 2023 Cricket World Cup Qualifier, Nissanka scored two centuries and two half-centuries and finished as the second-highest run-scorer with 417 runs. He was also included in Wisden’s Team of the Tournament.
In February 2024, he created history by scoring 210* against Afghanistan, becoming the first Sri Lankan to score an ODI double hundred. This was also the highest ODI score ever made in Sri Lanka and included a record number of boundary runs and sixes for a Sri Lankan batter at home.
Later in 2024, Nissanka was selected for the ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year 2024 after scoring 694 runs in 12 matches. He also returned to Test cricket with a match-winning, unbeaten century against England, helping Sri Lanka win their first Test against England in 10 years.
In 2025, he scored a T20I century against India, becoming one of the few players to score a Test century, an ODI double century, and a T20I century. He later became the first Sri Lankan batter to score multiple T20I hundreds when he made another unbeaten century against Australia on 16 February 2026 during the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Pathum Nissanka Career Stats
In Tests, Pathum Nissanka played 18 matches and scored 1305 runs, with 4 centuries and 7 fifties. In ODIs, he has played 77 matches and scored 2920 runs. He has made 7 centuries and 18 fifties. In T20Is, he has played 87 matches and scored 2574 runs.
In First-Class cricket, he has played 58 matches and scored 5262 runs. He had made 19 centuries and 21 fifties. In List A, he has played 119 matches and scored 4294 runs. In T20s, he has played 163 matches and scored 4539 runs, with 3 centuries and 32 fifties.
| Batting | ||||||
| Format | Mat | Runs | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s |
| Tests | 18 | 1305 | 4 | 7 | 150 | 5 |
| ODIs | 77 | 2920 | 7 | 18 | 367 | 36 |
| T20Is | 87 | 2574 | 2 | 18 | 260 | 76 |
| FC | 58 | 5262 | 19 | 21 | 631 | 30 |
| List A | 119 | 4294 | 9 | 28 | 492 | 54 |
| T20s | 163 | 4539 | 3 | 32 | 463 | 137 |
Pathum Nissanka’s Personal Life
Pathum Nissanka was born on 18 May 1998 in Galle, Sri Lanka. He grew up in a poor family background. His father, Sunil Silva, worked as a ground boy, and his income was low. His mother supported the family by selling flowers near the Kalutara temple.
He started playing cricket while studying at Kalutara Vidyalaya, and later he moved to Isipathana College, Colombo. During the School Cricket Championship, he played one of his most famous early innings when he scored an unbeaten 205 runs off 190 balls against President’s College, Rajagiriya at the Colts ground in Colombo.
Pathum Nissanka Contract
Pathum Nissanka got his first IPL contract in the IPL 2026 auction, where he was signed by Delhi Capitals (DC) for ₹4 crore. This was a big moment for him because it confirmed that franchises were seriously interested in him after his strong and steady performances for Sri Lanka. This signing will also mark Pathum Nissanka’s IPL debut in the 2026 season.
FAQs
Q. Which IPL team is Pathum Nissanka playing for?
A. Pathum Nissanka was signed by Delhi Capitals (DC) in the IPL for ₹4 crore.
Q. When did Pathum Nissanka start playing cricket?
A. Pathum Nissanka started playing cricket during his school days while studying at Kalutara Vidyalaya.
Q. When did Pathum Nissanka make his international debut for Sri Lanka?
A. Pathum Nissanka made his international debut for Sri Lanka in March 2021.
Q. When was Pathun Nissanka born?
A. Pathum Nissanka was born on 18 May 1998 in Galle, Sri Lanka.
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