Overview
Nishad Tharanga Paranavitana, born on 15 April 1982, is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who represented his country in Test matches. He played primarily as an opening batsman and bowled off-break as a secondary skill.
Paranavitana built his career in the longer format of the game, where his role at the top of the order required patience and a steady technique against the new ball. As an opener, he was tasked with seeing off the early overs and providing a stable platform for the middle order, while his off-break bowling offered an additional option to the side.
He announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in August 2020, bringing his playing career to a close.