Matheesha Pathirana, born on December 18, 2002, is a talented young Sri Lankan cricketer who has made headlines with his remarkable performances. He was nicknamed the “Baby Malinga,” and has similarities to the renowned Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga due to his comparable bowling action and slingy delivery technique, which has enriched Matheesha Pathirana – player profile.
Pathirana gained more international exposure as a result of his IPL achievements. After that, he was named to Sri Lanka’s Twenty20 Asia Cup squad, where he made his debut against Afghanistan. His outstanding performances persisted in T20Is and ODIs, demonstrating his ability to be an important member of Sri Lanka’s team in the future.
Early Career
Pathirana initially came to notice as a member of Sri Lanka’s squad for the 2020 Under-19 Cricket World Cup, although he did not make a lasting impression in Twenty20 cricket. Even at an early age, his talent and potential were obvious, and as he rose through the Sri Lankan cricket ranks, he kept improving.
Pathirana was nominated to Sri Lanka’s squad for the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies in January 2022, cementing his place as one of the country’s most promising young players. But it was in franchise cricket that Pathirana really started to take off.
Making his professional Twenty20 cricket debut in August 2021, Pathirana cricket statistics was the reason why he was chosen to play for the SLC Greys in the 2021 SLC Invitational T20 League. His performance in the competition demonstrated his ability to win matches with the bat and the ball, making him one of Sri Lanka’s most promising young players.
Matheesha Pathirana IPL Career
Pathirana’s major break came when he earned a contract with the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in April 2022. He was originally signed by the CSK, as a replacement for Adam Milne for the season.
Notably, MS Dhoni fast-tracked Pathirana to the Chennai Super Kings for the 2022 season, and he flourished under Dhoni’s leadership. In 2021, Dhoni watched Pathirana’s bowling footage from a local schools cricket match in Kandy and expressed interest in having him for the IPL. Dhoni even wrote a letter asking Pathirana to get vaccinated and join CSK in the UAE during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pathirana Stats for CSK in IPL 2022
After being scouted by MS Dhoni himself, the young Pathirana came in with a lot of expectations hanging on his shoulders. Nonetheless, he made an instant impression on CSK, joining the ranks of international talents and seasoned veterans. Taking out Shubman Gill with his first ball in his IPL debut against the Gujarat Titans, Pathirana became the first Sri Lankan and ninth player overall to accomplish this milestone in IPL history.
Pathirana Stats for CSK in IPL 2023
Throughout the 2023 season, he maintained his stellar IPL play, contributing significantly to CSK’s championship-winning campaign. Pathirana was a powerful weapon for CSK because of his accurate and fast bowling as well as his cunning variations. With 19 wickets at an economy rate of 8 in 12 matches, he was the third-highest wicket-taker for the squad at the end of the campaign.
Pathirana Stats for CSK in IPL 2024
After a great couple of years with the most loved IPL team, CSK, Pathirana had to miss the whole of IPL 2024. This came as a result of a hamstring injury the 20-year-old had sustained right before the season.
What is the future of Matheesha Pathirana in the IPL?
Coming into the biggest franchise festival with hardly any exposure, Matheesha Pathirana turned out to be the best young talent the cricket fraternity had ever seen. Of course, he was scouted by the best himself, Thala Dhoni. MS Dhoni not only helped CSK secure the ranks of such a talented player but also gave Sri Lanka an asset to cherish for their future.
As Pathirana’s cricket career progresses, young players in Sri Lanka and elsewhere can draw inspiration from his journey. Pathirana has the ability to add greatly to Sri Lankan cricket’s illustrious history and establish himself as a true legend of the game thanks to his skill, commitment, and willpower.
Also read: CSK Owner: The Driving Force Behind Chennai Super Kings’ Success
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