Pathum Nissanka, Sri Lanka’s batsman for all seasons is certainly dominating the International T20 League in the UAE treating it like his own backyard.
His first three innings for Gulf Giants has just been ridiculous:
81 off 42 balls (6 fours, 4 sixes), st/rt 192.85 v MI Emirates
67 off 31 balls (6 fours, 5 sixes), st/rt 216.12 v Dubai Capitals
56 off 29 balls (4 fours, 4 sixes), st/rt 193.10 v Desert Vipers
Nissanka is in peak destruction mode and seems unstoppable.
Gulf Giants Captain Moeen Ali had only praise for this little dynamite.
‘He is a brilliant player. I believe he is one of the best players in the world in all the formats. He is very hard to bowl at, amazing shots and he takes it one down. His confidence is strong and he quietly goes by his business.’
Sri Lanka’s former White Ball Captain Dasun Shanaka who is leading Dubai Capitals said: ‘He is in the form of his life at the moment, bowling anything at him means going for a six. He’s worked hard over the recent past. He wants to make sure he is coming up with the level he needs to maintain at international level. I am absolutely happy the way he has come. I have seen him growing from a very young age. I feel happy for him.’
TV commentator Alan Wilkins was of the view: ‘He’s amazing because he is so small, and yet he hits the ball so far. He’s going to give trouble to a lot of teams in this tournament.’
Nissanka has already picked up two Player of the Match awards in the three matches he’s played so far. He is the leading run-getter in the tournament with 204 runs (avg. 68.00) and a strike rate of 200. He’s hit the most number of boundaries – 16 fours and 13 sixes.
The way Nissanka has dominated the ILT20 he is sure to be a front-runner for one of the franchises in next year’s IPL.