 While studying at Oxford, he played first-class cricket for Oxford University from 1975 to 1978, making 28 appearances.Pathmanathan scored 1,099 runs in these 28 appearances, at an average of 22.42 and a high score of 82, one of eight half centuries he made for Oxford.In addition to playing first-class cricket for Oxford, he also made ten appearances for the Combined Universities cricket team in the Benson & Hedges Cup between 1975–78.