Sports
Pathum Nissanka poised to join cricket’s elite
Pathum Nissanka has been ticking all the right boxes, and the Sri Lankan opener now has his sights set on something truly special – a place among the ICC’s top ten batters across all three formats.
Already perched at number seven in T20Is, the 27-year-old has made a compelling case in the longer formats too, with a string of towering performances that have turned heads and tilted matches in Sri Lanka’s favour.
Last year, Nissanka carved his name into history books, becoming the first Sri Lankan to notch up a double hundred in ODI cricket. He followed it up with a match-winning hundred at The Oval, steering his side to a landmark Test victory in England – their first on English soil in a decade.
Now, fresh off back-to-back centuries against Bangladesh, including a career-best 187 in Galle and a polished 158 in Colombo, Nissanka is laying the groundwork for greatness.
“He’s got the game, the grit, and the gears,” said former captain Angelo Mathews. “He doesn’t just get starts – he bats deep. That’s the hallmark of a player who wins you matches.”
Both innings against Bangladesh were masterclasses in restraint and calculation. Not once did he attempt a cut shot, nor did he fall for the bait of the short ball – even as Bangladesh set the trap with three men patrolling the deep leg-side fence. The pull too, was shelved. Instead, he stuck to his scoring zones, milking the spinners and stroking elegant drives both on the front and back foot.
“In today’s age of T20 razzle-dazzle, that kind of discipline is rare,” noted coach Sanath Jayasuriya. “When Pathum gets in, he doesn’t give it away. That’s what sets him apart.”
And yet, for all his poise, the elusive Test double hundred still awaits. Twice now, the second new ball has brought his downfall. But once he figures out how to weather that storm, the floodgates could open.
His teammates reckon the goal isn’t just a top-ten finish – it’s the summit. Publicly, he speaks of his admiration for Virat Kohli and the desire to break into the elite club. Privately, those close to him whisper of grander ambitions – becoming the number one batter in the world.
Nissanka’s emergence has been central to Sri Lanka’s white-ball resurgence. After missing out on Champions Trophy qualification – a bitter pill for a nation that once redefined ODI cricket – the side has climbed to fourth in the ICC rankings, with series wins over both India and Australia.
Off the field, too, Nissanka cuts an influential figure. During last year’s England tour, he was appointed ‘discipline officer’ – and famously fined Jayasuriya himself for littering. The legendary left-hander laughed it off and paid up, much to the amusement of the squad.
Kamindu Mendis, a contemporary at under-19 level and current teammate, says Nissanka’s simplicity is deceptive. “He makes batting look so easy. When I’m at the other end, it rubs off on me.”
It’s not often Sri Lanka produces a player who looks equally at ease in whites and coloured clothing, against spin and pace, home and away. The last to do it consistently? A certain Kumar Sangakkara.
Nissanka’s numbers are climbing. So is the buzz. If he keeps piling on the runs and holding his nerve when the pressure cooker whistles, the boy from Kalutara might just take his place at the high table of world cricket.
(Telecom Asia Sport)
[Cricbuzz]
Former Sri Lanka head coach Mickey Arthur has voiced disappointment over remarks made by Chairman of Selectors Pramodya Wickramasinghe, who last week claimed that Arthur was reluctant to include a young Pathum Nissanka during Sri Lanka’s tour of the Caribbean in 2021.
In his first media briefing, Wickramasinghe said it was he who pushed for Nissanka’s inclusion despite Arthur’s reservations. The former coach has flatly denied the allegation, calling it wide of the mark.
“I am very disappointed with Pramodya’s comments,” Arthur told Telecom Asia Sport. “The right people know exactly how I felt about Pathum. There was never any doubt that he was our future. I don’t want any credit for Pathum’s success. That belongs entirely to his hard work. I simply gave him an opportunity because the talent was impossible to ignore.”
Arthur said Nissanka’s domestic form had left little room for debate. “He was scoring runs for fun and the sheer weight of them made it impossible not to take a look. Once he joined the squad on tour, his attitude and work ethic were truly remarkable. From that moment, there was no doubt this bloke was going places,” Arthur added.
Even before Nissanka’s elevation to the senior side, Arthur had publicly spoken of his admiration for young prospects such as Nissanka and Charith Asalanka, stressing the importance of giving emerging players a long rope. His view was simple: once talent is identified and the attitude checks out, selectors and team management must back those players through thick and thin.
Arthur arrived in Sri Lanka with a formidable résumé, having coached South Africa, Australia and Pakistan. He placed a premium on fitness and fielding and under his watch a team in transition began to show signs of turning the corner. At the end of his tenure, Arthur opted not to renew his contract and instead took up a stint in English county cricket with Derbyshire.
As for Nissanka, he has scarcely put a foot wrong since breaking into the side. There was a Test hundred on debut in the West Indies, followed last year by a match-winning unbeaten century against England at The Oval on a lively seaming pitch. In between, he made history by becoming the first Sri Lankan to score a double hundred in ODIs. Last week, he was snapped up by Delhi Capitals at the IPL auction.
Nissanka is currently ranked third in T20 internationals and is knocking on the door of the top ten in both Tests and ODIs.
73rd National Badminton Championship
Defending champions Viren Nettasinghe and Ranithma Liyanage made a fitting end to their campaigns of the 2025 season, by defending the Men’s and Women’s Open Singles titles as Varangana Jayawardana and Rashmi Mudalige clinched the Women’s Open Doubles title at the 73rd National Badminton Championship, concluded at the S. Thomas’ College Indoor Sports Complex, Mount Lavinia on Wednesday (24).
Viren clinically overcame each of his opponents from the Round of 32, all in straight sets, to reach the final. The country’s top Men’s Singles shuttler continued his form against Rasindu Hendahewa in the final, winning in straight sets to defend the title. Viren defeated Rasindu 21-10 and 21-14 to win his second national title in style.
Ranithma aptly defended her Women’s Open Singles title by recording a comfortable straight sets win against Rashmi Mudalige in an absorbing final that lasted nearly 45 minutes. Though the title decider stretched way longer than anticipated, Ranithma managed to seal the victory by recording set wins of 21-12 and 21-18 to claim the national title for the second year running.
Fourth seed pair Sanuda Ariyasinghe and Thisath Rupathunga created an upset by toppling top seeds Oshamika Karunarathne and Thulith Palliyaguru in a lengthy final that went down to the wire in the Men’s Open Doubles. Sanuda and Thisath won the first set 21-15, but the top pair bounced back to level the game one-all with a 21-18 win. But the gritty pair of Sanuda and Thisath maintained their composure to overcome the favourites 21-15 in the decider and claim the Men’s Open Doubles title.
Varangana Jayawardana and Rashmi Mudalige completed a successful campaign to defend the Women’s Open Doubles title from last year, this time overcoming the aspiring pair of Dilni Ambalangodage and Ranumi Manage in straight sets. Varangana and Rashmi remained unbeaten throughout, as they ended the unblemished run of Dilni and Ranumi with set wins of 21-13 and 21-18.
The Mixed Open Doubles title was claimed by Thulith Palliyaguru and Panchali Adhikari, who battled for 45 minutes to overcome Aashinsa Herath and Rashmi Mudalige 2-1 in the final. After conceding the first set by 12-21, Thulith and Panchali regrouped to claim the next two sets 21-18 and 21-15.
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