Pathum Nissanka

Pathum Nissanka Silva (Sinhala: පැතුම් නිස්සංක, born 18 May 1998) is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer who plays for Sri Lanka in all three formats of the game. He made his international debut for the Sri Lanka cricket team in March 2021 and currently slotted as the permanent opening batsman. On 9 February 2024, Nissanka scored an ODI double hundred, becoming the first Sri Lankan to achieve the feat.

Early life and domestic career
Pathum Nissanka was born on 18 May 1998 in Galle. His father Sunil Silva worked as a ground boy and his income was low. Pathum's mother sold flowers near the Kalutara temple. In early childhood, he was raised in a poor family background. Started his cricket career during his time at Kalutara Vidyalaya and then move to Isipathana College, Colombo. When in the School Cricket Championship he scored unbeaten double century (205) off 190 balls against President's College, Rajagiriya at Colts ground, Colombo. He made his List A debut for Hambantota District in the 2016–17 Districts One Day Tournament on 17 March 2017. He made his Twenty20 debut for Badureliya Sports Club in the 2017–18 SLC Twenty20 Tournament on 24 February 2018.

In March 2018, he was named in Kandy's squad for the 2017–18 Super Four Provincial Tournament. The following month, he was also named in Kandy's squad for the 2018 Super Provincial One Day Tournament.

In March 2019, he was named in Kandy's squad for the 2019 Super Provincial One Day Tournament. In August 2021, he was named in the SLC Greens team for the 2021 SLC Invitational T20 League tournament. In November 2021, he was selected to play for the Colombo Stars following the players' draft for the 2021 Lanka Premier League. In July 2022, he was signed by the Kandy Falcons to play in the 2022 Lanka Premier League tournament.

On 17, December 2023 at Major Clubs Limited over tournament 2022/2023, against SSC Pathum scored his 5th List A century. He scored 135 runs from 96 deliveries hitting 13 boundaries and 6 sixes while chasing down 263 from 35 overs. His efforts went in vain NCC lost the match by 14 runs.

Early days
In January 2019, he was named in Sri Lanka A's squad for the first-class series against Ireland A. He was the leading run-scorer for Sri Lanka A with 258 runs in two matches. In February 2019, he scored his 1,000th run in the 2018–19 Premier League Tournament, batting for Nondescripts Cricket Club against Colombo Cricket Club. He finished the tournament as the leading run-scorer for Nondescripts Cricket Club, with 1,088 runs in seven matches.

In November 2019, he was named in Sri Lanka's squad for the 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Bangladesh. Later the same month, he was named in Sri Lanka's squad for the men's cricket tournament at the 2019 South Asian Games. The Sri Lanka team won the silver medal after they lost to Bangladesh by seven wickets in the final.

In February 2021, Nissanka was named in Sri Lanka's limited overs squad for their series against the West Indies. He made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut for Sri Lanka on 3 March 2021, against the West Indies. Three days later, Nissanka was named in Sri Lanka's Test squad, also for their series against the West Indies. He made his One Day International (ODI) debut for Sri Lanka on 10 March 2021, against the West Indies. He made his Test debut for Sri Lanka on 21 March 2021, against the West Indies. In the second innings of the match, he scored 103 runs to become the fourth batsman for Sri Lanka to score a century on debut in Test cricket. It was also the first century to be scored by a Sri Lankan batsman away from home on debut.

On 1 October 2021, he was added to Sri Lanka's squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. During the World Cup, Nissanka scored 221 runs in eight matches, including three half centuries. On 16 January 2022, against Zimbabwe Nissanka scored his maiden ODI half century. He scored 146 runs in three matches, including two half-centuries. Due to his performance, Nissanka was named the Player of the Series. Even though Sri Lanka lost the T20I series 4-1 against Australia in February 2022, Nissaka broke the record of the Sri Lankan batsman who scored the most runs in a T20I match series against Australia, scoring 184 runs in the 5 matches.

Rising through the ranks
In June 2022, in the third match against Australia, Nissanka scored his first century in an ODI match, with 137 runs, as Sri Lanka beat Australia by six wickets. During the Test series against Australia, Nissanka contracted COVID-19 and was ruled out of the series. During the T20I series against Australia, he reached 598 T20I runs broke the Sri Lankan record for the Most runs in the first 20 T20I innings for Sri Lanka held by Kumar Sangakkara with 576 runs. In the meantime, he surpassed Tillakaratne Dilshan's record for the Most 30+ scores for Sri Lanka in the first 20 T20I innings with by reaching eleven 30+ scores.

During the 2022 Asia Cup, Nissanka played as the opener with Kusal Mendis and they made match-winning partnerships in the games against Bangladesh, Afghanistan and India. Meanwhile, Nissanka made half-centuries against India and Pakistan in the Super 4 stage. Chasing 174 against India, Nissanka and Mendis made 97 runs within 11 overs and set up the chase. Even though Nissaka got out early in the final against Pakistan, Sri Lanka finally won the tournament for the sixth time.

First round in T20I World Cup 2022, against UAE, Nissanka scored his 8th T20I half-century. He scored 74 runs in 60 balls to out Sri Lanka's descendant total of 152 runs. Due to excellent bowling performance from Sri Lanka they won the match by 79 runs and Nissanka won player of the match award for his performance. On 5 November 2022, against England, Nissanka scored 9th T20I half-century. He scored 67 runs from 45 deliveries hitting two boundaries and five sixes. Despite his knock Sri Lanka lost the match by 4 wickets. On 7 June 2023, against Afghanistan, Nissanka scored 7th ODI half-century. He scored 51 runs from 34 balls. Finally, Sri Lanka won the match. He is the second highest run-scorer in the series 132 in 3 innings with an average of 44.

On 19 June 2023, qualifier match against UAE, Pathum scored his 8th ODI half-century. He scored 57 runs from 76 deliveries hitting five boundaries. He also put 95 run partnership with Dimuth Karunaratne. Finally, Sri Lanka won the match by 175 runs. On 27 June 2023, qualifier match against Scottland, Nissanka scored his 9th ODI half century and reached 1000 ODI runs. He scored 75 runs from 85 balls hitting 10 boundaries. Finally, Sri Lanka won the match by 82 runs. On 2 July 2023, qualifier match against Zimbabwe, Nissanka scored his 2nd ODI century. While chasing down the target, he scored an unbeaten 101 runs from 102 balls hitting 14 boundaries. He hit the winning run and also reached his century by hitting a boundary. Finally, Sri Lanka won the match by 9 wickets. On 7 July 2023, qualifier match against West Indies, Pathum Nissanka scored his second consecutive and third ODI century. While chasing down the target of 243, Nissanka scored 104 runs from 113 deliveries hitting 14 boundaries. Pathum and Dimuth Karunaratne put strong 190-run partnership for the first wicket. Finally, Sri Lanka won the match by 8 wickets.

Nissanka was the second-highest run-scorer in the World Cup qualifier scoring 417 runs with an average of 69.50 including two centuries and two half-centuries. Due to his performance, he was included in Wisden’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023 Team of the Tournament. Nissanka selected to cricket world cup squad. During the match against Pakistan, he scored his 10th ODI half-century. He scored 51 runs from 61 deliveries hitting seven boundaries and one six. He also put 102 run partnership with Kusal Mendis. On 16 October 2023, against Australia Pathum scored his 11th ODI half-century. He scored 61 runs from 67 deliveries hitting eight boundaries. He also put 125 run partnership with Kusal Perera for first wicket. On 21 October 2023, against Netherland Pathum scored his 12th ODI half-century. His third consecutive half-century in the World Cup. He scored 54 runs from 52 deliveries hitting 9 boundaries. Finally, Sri Lanka won their first match in the world cup by 5 wickets.

On 26 October 2023, against England Pathum scored his 13th ODI half-century. His fourth consecutive half-century in the World Cup. He scored unbeaten 77 runs from 83 deliveries hitting seven boundaries and two sixes. This achievement made him the fifth Sri Lankan batter to score 50 or more runs in three consecutive World Cup matches, joining the ranks of cricket legends like Kumar Sangakkara, Chamara Silva, Roshan Mahanama, and Arjuna Ranatunga. Nissanka also became the second batter and first Sri Lankan to get to 1000 ODI runs in 2023. Pathum put unbeaten 137 run partnership with Sadeera Samarawickrama to bring 8 wickets victory for Sri Lanka. He is second highest run scorer for Sri Lanka scoring 332 runs in 9 matches with average of 41.5.

On 9 February 2024, during the first ODI match against Afghanistan, Nissanka became the first Sri Lankan to score an ODI double hundred, surpassing the previous highest score of 189 by Sanath Jayasuriya in 2000. The score also equalled fifth highest individual score in ODI history and he became only the tenth batsman in the world to score a double hundred in an ODI. It is also the third fastest double century in men's ODIs just behind Ishan Kishan and Glenn Maxwell in terms of number of balls faced as he reached the milestone in 136 balls. His unbeaten knock of 210 is also the highest individual ODI score in Sri Lankan soil surpassing the previous record of 169 held by Kumar Sangakkara. He scored 128 runs in boundaries during his innings of 210*, which is the most for a Sri Lankan batter in ODIs. He scored 8 sixes during the innings which is also the highest number of sixes scored by a Sri Lankan batter in an ODI played in Sri Lankan soil. Nissanka also became first Sri Lankan male cricketer to score a double century in List A cricket.

On 14th February, 2024 against Afghanistan, he scored his 5th ODI century, and the second hundred in the series. During the course, he also become the fastest Sri Lankan to score 2000 ODI runs with 52 innings, which is 11 innings better than Upul Tharanga. He scored 118 runs from 101 deliveries and eventually Sri Lanka won the match by 7 wickets. Nissanka won player of the match and player of the series awards for his performance throughout the series. He is the highest run-scorer in a three-match series for Sri Lanka and fourth overall with 346 runs with 173 average. During third T20I match against Afghanistan, Nissanka scored his 10th T20I half century and first against Afghanistan. He scored 60 runs from 30 balls but he had to leave the field due to a hamstring injury and Sri Lankan later lost the match by 3 runs.

On March 15, 2024, second ODI match against Bangladesh Pathum scored his 6th ODI century. His third century in five innings. He scored 114 runs from 113 balls hitting 13 boundaries and three sixes. He also put 185 run partnership for fourth wicket with Charith Asalanka. Finally, Sri Lanka won the match by 3 wickets and Pathum won player of the match award for his performance.

In May 2024, he was named in Sri Lanka’s squad for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament.