Pathum Nissanka also got IPL contract, Delhi included him in the team by paying huge amount

By Samira Vishwas On Dec 25, 2025

The name of Sri Lankan opening batsman Pathum Nissanka has also been approved in the IPL 2026 mini auction being held in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday (December 16). Delhi Capitals included him in their team by making a huge bid of Rs 4 crore. Nissanka’s base price was Rs 75 lakh, but the bidding war between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders increased his price manifold.

This is the first IPL contract of Pathum Nissanka’s career. He had never participated in the Indian Premier League before, so Delhi Capitals has taken this gamble keeping in mind his current form and future prospects.

Nissanka has been one of Sri Lanka’s most reliable batsmen in the last two years. In the T20 International in the year 2025, he scored 976 runs in 26 innings at a strike rate of more than 160, which clearly reflects his aggressive batting. At present, he is at third position in the ICC T20 batsmen’s ranking with 779 rating points.

In February 2024, Nissanka created history and scored the first double century for Sri Lanka in ODI cricket. Apart from this, while playing for Gulf Giants in the ILT20 League in the 2025-26 season, he has indicated excellent form by scoring two consecutive half-centuries.

Talking about Delhi Capitals, apart from Pathum Nissanka, the team has so far strengthened its squad by purchasing Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi (8 crore 40 lakh), South Africa’s experienced batsman David Miller (2 crore) and England’s explosive opener Ben Duckett (2 crore).