• Home
  • Match Hub
  • Pathum Nissanka Breaks Virat Kohlis Elite Asia Cup Record With Dominance Vs India

Pathum Nissanka breaks Virat Kohli's elite Asia Cup record with dominance vs India

Kaushik Kashyap

Pathum Nissanka. [Source - @absay_ek/x.com]Pathum Nissanka. [Source - @absay_ek/x.com]

In a significant moment, Pathum Nissanka etched his name into Asia Cup history by becoming the batter with the most 50-plus scores in the T20I format of the tournament. The Sri Lankan opener achieved this milestone during the ongoing 2025 edition of the Asia Cup in Dubai, where he scored his fifth half-century while chasing India’s formidable 203-run target in a Super 4 clash.

Nissanka’s record-breaking masterclass outshines Indian Legend

Nissanka, who made his Asia Cup debut in the 2022 edition, has quickly built a reputation as one of the most consistent performers in the competition. In just 12 innings across editions, he has already amassed over 400 runs, underlining his value at the top of Sri Lanka’s order.

His fifth fifty took him past India’s Virat Kohli, who previously held the record with four fifty-plus scores, including a memorable hundred, from only nine innings.

The achievement is particularly special given the quality of players on the list. Apart from Nissanka and Kohli, the other names in the top five include India’s Abhishek Sharma, Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan, and Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis, each with three fifty-plus scores in Asia Cup T20I history.

Most 50+ Scores in the T20I Asia Cup

Players
Country
No. Of 50s
Innings
Pathum NissankaSri Lanka512
Virat KohliIndia49
Mohammad RizwanPakistan36
Abhishek SharmaIndia312
Kusal MendisSri Lanka36


Nissanka’s has been a regular name in Sri Lankan T20I setup and ability to consistently provide his side with strong starts puts him in a league of his own. As for the match itself, India had earlier posted a commanding total of 202 runs, riding on yet another aggressive batting display. In response, Sri Lanka’s chase was off to a promising start thanks to Nissanka’s brilliance.

He, along with the swashbuckling Kusal Perera at number three, stitched together a 127-run stand for the second wicket, keeping Sri Lanka well on track to pull off what would be one of the most remarkable chases of the tournament. The Lankans may be out of the tournament after their last defeat against Pakistan, but this win will be very vital for them to finish the tournament on a high.