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Pathum Nissanka has rapidly established himself as one of Sri Lanka’s most dependable top-order batters, announcing his arrival on the international stage with a remarkable Test century on debut. A solid right-handed opener, Nissanka made his international debuts across all formats in 2021, making an immediate impact against the West Indies. While his early days in one-day internationals were challenging — marked by a string of low scores and single-digit dismissals — Nissanka’s fortunes changed following a fluent 75 against Zimbabwe in Galle. That innings proved to be a turning point, triggering a sharp rise in consistency and confidence in the 50-over format. The stylish opener went on to score his maiden ODI century against Australia in 2022, a match-winning effort that earned him the Player of the Match award. He further underlined his ability to convert starts into big scores during the 2023 ICC World Cup Qualifiers, where he struck back-to-back centuries against Zimbabwe and West Indies. Those performances played a key role in Sri Lanka’s qualification campaign and highlighted Nissanka’s appetite for responsibility at the top of the order. Known for his composure and sound technique, he has shown a growing ability to build long innings and anchor chases. With the ICC World Cup set to be played in India, Nissanka’s familiarity with subcontinent conditions makes him a crucial asset for Sri Lanka. Given his proven ability to score big runs, he is widely regarded as one of the players to watch and a batter Sri Lanka will be keen to see firing on the biggest stage.
