Pathum Nissanka becomes Sri Lanka’s highest run scorer in T20Is

By Moiz Mustafa

Pathum Nissanka has officially climbed to the top of Sri Lanka’s T20I batting records, becoming the nation’s highest run scorer in the format. His rise from a promising young opener in 2021 to the leading figure of Sri Lanka’s T20 batting unit in 2025 reflects a steady, disciplined and impactful journey.

Across 77 matches and 76 innings, Nissanka has scored 2,326 runs, surpassing every Sri Lankan who has played the format before him. He averages 32.30 with a strike rate of 126.89, a combination that highlights both reliability at the crease and controlled acceleration when required. His tally includes 18 half centuries, making him one of the most consistent top order performers in Sri Lanka’s T20I history.

Nissanka’s highest score, a superb 107 off 58 balls against India, remains the standout innings of his career. That century showcased the full range of his strokeplay, including precise footwork, clean hitting through the line and an ability to shift gears seamlessly. It also stands as one of Sri Lanka’s most memorable individual T20 performances of the decade.

Alongside that hundred, Nissanka has struck 237 fours and 63 sixes, regularly providing Sri Lanka with strong starts during the powerplay and building momentum deeper into the innings. He has remained unbeaten four times and registered six ducks, statistics that add texture to an otherwise remarkably steady career graph.

Nissanka’s ascent to the number one position on Sri Lanka’s all time T20I run list is more than a numerical achievement. It marks his transformation into the backbone of Sri Lanka’s short format batting. With his best years still ahead of him, the record he now holds looks set to grow even further, along with his influence on Sri Lanka’s future in global T20 cricket.