History of Pathum Nissanka in Timeline

Pathum Nissanka is a Sri Lankan professional cricketer who plays all formats of the game. He debuted for the Sri Lanka national team in March 2021 and currently serves as the permanent opening batsman across all three formats. In February 2024, Nissanka made history by scoring an ODI double century, becoming the first Sri Lankan to achieve this milestone.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

May 1998: Pathum Nissanka was born in Galle

On 18 May 1998, Pathum Nissanka was born in Galle, with his father working as a ground boy and his mother selling flowers near the Kalutara temple.

Others born on this day/year

March 2017: List A debut

On 17 March 2017, Pathum Nissanka made his List A debut for Hambantota District in the 2016–17 Districts One Day Tournament.

February 2018: Twenty20 debut

On 24 February 2018, Pathum Nissanka made his Twenty20 debut for Badureliya Sports Club in the 2017–18 SLC Twenty20 Tournament.

March 2018: Named in Kandy's squad

In March 2018, Pathum Nissanka was named in Kandy's squad for the 2017–18 Super Four Provincial Tournament.

March 2019: Named in Kandy's squad for the Super Provincial One Day Tournament

In March 2019, Pathum Nissanka was named in Kandy's squad for the 2019 Super Provincial One Day Tournament.

February 2021: Named in Sri Lanka's limited overs squad

In February 2021, Pathum Nissanka was named in Sri Lanka's limited overs squad for their series against the West Indies.

March 2021: International Debut

In March 2021, Pathum Nissanka made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut for Sri Lanka on 3 March 2021, against the West Indies, his One Day International (ODI) debut for Sri Lanka on 10 March 2021, against the West Indies and his Test debut for Sri Lanka on 21 March 2021, against the West Indies. He scored 103 runs in the second innings of the test match.

August 2021: Named in SLC Greens team

In August 2021, Pathum Nissanka was named in the SLC Greens team for the 2021 SLC Invitational T20 League tournament.

October 2021: Added to Sri Lanka's squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup

On 1 October 2021, Pathum Nissanka was added to Sri Lanka's squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, scoring 221 runs in eight matches.

November 2021: Selected to play for the Colombo Stars

In November 2021, Pathum Nissanka was selected to play for the Colombo Stars following the players' draft for the 2021 Lanka Premier League.

January 2022: Scored maiden ODI half century against Zimbabwe

On 16 January 2022, against Zimbabwe, Pathum Nissanka scored his maiden ODI half century. He scored 146 runs in three matches, including two half-centuries and was named the Player of the Series.

February 2022: Broke record for runs scored by a Sri Lankan batsman in a T20I match series against Australia

In February 2022, even though Sri Lanka lost the T20I series 4-1 against Australia, Pathum Nissaka broke the record for runs scored by a Sri Lankan batsman in a T20I match series against Australia, scoring 184 runs in the 5 matches.

June 2022: Scored his first century in an ODI match

In June 2022, in the third match against Australia, Pathum 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, and broke the record for most runs in the first 20 T20I innings for Sri Lanka, previously held by Kumar Sangakkara with 576 runs.

July 2022: Signed by the Kandy Falcons

In July 2022, Pathum Nissanka was signed by the Kandy Falcons to play in the 2022 Lanka Premier League tournament.

November 2022: T20I half-century against England

On 5 November 2022, against England, Nissanka scored 67 runs from 45 deliveries hitting two boundaries and five sixes. Despite his knock Sri Lanka lost the match by 4 wickets.

June 2023: ODI Half-Century Against UAE

On 19 June 2023, in the qualifier match against UAE, Nissanka scored 57 runs from 76 deliveries hitting five boundaries. Sri Lanka won the match by 175 runs.

July 2023: ODI centuries against Zimbabwe and West Indies

In July 2023, Nissanka scored his 2nd ODI century on 2 July 2023, qualifier match against Zimbabwe. On 7 July 2023, qualifier match against West Indies, Nissanka scored his second consecutive and third ODI century. Finally, Sri Lanka won the match by 8 wickets.

October 2023: Multiple ODI Half-Centuries in the 2023 Cricket World Cup

During the 2023 Cricket World Cup in October 2023, Nissanka scored multiple ODI half-centuries: against Pakistan, against Australia on 16 October 2023, and against the Netherlands on 21 October 2023. Sri Lanka won their first match in the World Cup against Netherland.

October 2023: Consecutive ODI Half-Centuries in the World Cup

On 26 October 2023 against England, Nissanka made his 13th ODI half-century, his fourth consecutive half-century in the World Cup, where he became the fifth Sri Lankan batter to score 50 or more runs in three consecutive World Cup matches. Nissanka also became the second batter and first Sri Lankan to get to 1000 ODI runs in 2023.

December 2023: Nissanka scored his 5th List A century

On 17 December 2023, against SSC at the Major Clubs Limited over tournament 2022/2023, Nissanka scored 135 runs, marking his 5th List A century, though NCC lost the match.

February 2024: 5th ODI century and fastest Sri Lankan to 2000 ODI runs

On 14 February 2024 in the third ODI against Afghanistan, he scored his 5th ODI century and became the fastest Sri Lankan to score 2000 ODI runs with 52 innings. Nissanka won player of the match and player of the series awards for his performance throughout the series.

February 2024: Nissanka scores ODI double hundred

On 9 February 2024, Nissanka scored an ODI double hundred against Afghanistan, becoming the first Sri Lankan to achieve the feat. His score equaled the fifth-highest individual score in ODI history.

March 2024: 6th ODI Century Against Bangladesh

On 15 March 2024, in the second ODI match against Bangladesh, Nissanka scored his 6th ODI century and put 185 run partnership for fourth wicket with Charith Asalanka. He won player of the match award for his performance.

May 2024: Named in Sri Lanka’s squad for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament

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

August 2024: Scored 56 runs from 75 deliveries against India

On 2 August 2024, in the first ODI against India, he scored 56 runs from 75 deliveries hitting nine boundaries, but the match ended as a tie.

October 2024: 12th T20I Half-Century Against West Indies

On 15 October 2024, in the second T20I match against West Indies he scored his 12th T20I half-century, where Sri Lanka won the match by 73 runs and Nissanka won the player of the match award.

December 2024: 14th T20I Half Century Against New Zealand

On 28 December 2024, in the first T20I match against New Zealand, he scored his 14th T20I half century in a losing cause.

2024: Included in ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year 2024

In 2024, Pathum Nissanka was included in the ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year. He scored 694 runs in 12 matches, with an average of 63.1 and a strike rate of 106.4, including three centuries and two half-centuries.

August 2025: Nissanka Scored his 7th ODI Century Against Zimbabwe

On 31 August 2025, in the second ODI match against Zimbabwe, Pathum Nissanka scored his 7th ODI century, contributing to Sri Lanka's comfortable victory. He won both Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards for his performance.

September 2025: Nissanka achieves milestones in Asia Cup and T20I

In September 2025, Pathum Nissanka achieved multiple milestones. On 13 September 2025, during the Asia Cup 2025 match against Bangladesh, he scored 50 runs off 34 balls and became the third and fastest Sri Lankan to reach 2,000 T20I runs. He scored 68 off 44 balls against Hong Kong and won the player of the match award. On 26 September 2025, Nissanka scored his maiden T20I century against India, becoming the fourth Sri Lankan to achieve a century in all three formats. His score of 107 is the highest individual T20I score by a Sri Lankan.

February 2026: Nissanka Scored his 2nd T20I Century Against Australia

On 16 February 2026, Pathum Nissanka scored his 2nd T20I century against Australia during the 2026 T20 World Cup. He hit an unbeaten 100* off 52 deliveries, leading Sri Lanka to successfully chase down 182 in 18 overs. With this innings, Nissanka became the first Sri Lankan batter with multiple T20I hundreds.