Should Pathum Nissanka appear in the Modern Fab 4? –

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Should Pathum Nissanka appear in the Modern Fab 4? –

Image credits: Alamy images

Since its beginnings in 2021, Pathum Nissanka has established itself as among the best openers in international cricket.

It has been a decade since the late Martin Crowe announced the 4 cricketers that would define a generation. Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson and Joe Root have all gone on to be torchbearers of their nations, plundering runs all across the globe. None of the original Fab 4 remain active across all formats, with the new generation waiting in the wings.

Shubman Gill and Harry Brook are among certainties to feature in the modern day Fab 4. There is an argument for Yashasvi Jaiswal, while Rachin Ravindra also is one to be discussed. But what of Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka?

Sheer weight of numbers

Pathum Nissanka does not feature for the traditional heavyweights. The last time Sri Lanka featured in the semifinals of a tournament was in 2014 when they lifted the T20 World Cup. Nissanka then was just 16.

In the next 11 years, he has transformed himself into a lynchpin of the Sri Lankan batting line up. Since his Test debut in 2021, Nissanka averages a steady 45 in Test cricket. Among openers with more than 700 Test runs opening the batting since, Nissanka’s average of 49.15 is only behind Yashasvi Jaiswal. While the 27-year-old’s sample size in Test cricket is small, he has shown glimpses of control in both home and overseas conditions. In Tests against India, England and South Africa away from home, he has 3 fifties and a century in 10 innings.

Limited overs has been Nissanka’s strong suit. No batter has scored more runs in ODIs than the Sri Lankan since his debut in 2021. Pathum averages 41.60 in ODIs, scoring 2746 runs in 71 matches.

Modern day Fab 4 contenders

	ODI			Tests			T20
Player	Matches	Runs	Average	Matches	Runs	Average	Matches	Runs	Strike Rate
Shubman Gill	55	2755	59.04	38	2697	41.49	28	705	141.28
Harry Brook	32	995	34.31	30	2820	57.55	49	914	147.89
Pathum Nissanka	71	2746	41.6	18	1305	45	74	2211	126.55
Yashasvi Jaiswal	1	15	15	25	2245	49.88	23	723	164.31
Rachin Ravindra	33	1233	44.03	17	1224	42.2	30	452	136.14

Nissanka’s numbers come with a caveat. Unlike the support Gill and Brook receive, he is often the main man for Sri Lanka. His T20 strike rate is way below par as per 2025 standards but the Sri Lankan has shown a marked improvement in that regard. His strike rate rose to 138.53 in 2024, with a further rise to 153.91 in 2025.

The raw numbers do make a case for Nissanka. The Sri Lankan has shown mastery across formats in a way the original fab 4 displayed. The challenge now for the 27-year-old will be to do so regularly against the top teams in all conditions. Should he do that, he would be a sure pick in the top 4 batters of his generation.