Sri Lankan opening batter Pathum Nissanka was sold to Delhi Capitals for Rs 4 crore during the ongoing IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi, marking his first-ever Indian Premier League contract. Nissanka entered the auction with a base price of Rs 75 lakh, but a competitive bidding war between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders pushed his price significantly higher before Delhi sealed the deal.
This signing is a major milestone in Nissanka’s career, as he has never featured in the IPL before and therefore has no IPL match statistics to his name. Delhi Capitals appear to have invested in his current form and long-term potential rather than past IPL experience.
Nissanka is a regular opener for Sri Lanka across formats and has been one of the most consistent performers in international cricket over the past two years. In T20 internationals during 2025, he scored 976 runs in 26 innings at a strike rate of over 160, placing him among the top-ranked batters in the format.
One of the defining moments of his career came in February 2024, when he became the first Sri Lankan cricketer to score an ODI double century, smashing an unbeaten 210 off 139 balls. His recent form has continued in franchise cricket as well, with back-to-back half-centuries in the ILT20 2025–26 season while playing for the Gulf Giants.
With his aggressive batting style and strong recent numbers, Pathum Nissanka’s Rs 4 crore signing reflects Delhi Capitals’ intent to strengthen their top order ahead of the IPL 2026 season.
