Slingy bowling actions are absolutely unique and incredibly difficult to face. Matheesha Pathirana’s distinctive action has been troubling top batters worldwide. The 22-year-old Sri Lankan pacer creates havoc with his unusual release point.
He helped CSK win the IPL 2023 title with 19 crucial wickets. CSK released him after a mixed 2025 season and injury troubles. But his ILT20 spell of 4/19 proved he’s back to his best!
His IPL Team for 2026
Kolkata Knight Riders won the bidding war for Matheesha Pathirana decisively. The IPL Team beat the Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants to sign him. That three-way bidding battle pushed his Price way beyond ₹10 Crore!
He spent his early IPL career with CSK winning titles there. The IPL Team saw his ILT20 form and decided to invest massively. His 4/19 spell literally on auction eve convinced them completely!
His 47 wickets across 32 CSK matches prove consistent wicket-taking ability. The franchise needed genuine pace bowlers after releasing several options previously. Matheesha Pathirana becomes their marquee overseas bowling signing alongside Cameron Green.
His IPL Price Details
His IPL Price reached a massive ₹18 Crore at the December auction. That makes him the most expensive Sri Lankan player in IPL history ever! The cost jumped from his ₹2 Crore base through intense three-team bidding.
This reflects faith in his abilities beyond one bad season. CSK paid ₹13 Crore previously showing its established market value consistently. This suggests KKR believe his poor 2025 season was an injury-related anomaly.
Compare his salary to that of other overseas pacers bought in this auction round. Matheesha Pathirana’s unique slingy action justifies this premium investment completely. The money accounts for his championship-winning ability shown with CSK previously.
Career Journey and Playing Style
Matheesha Pathirana played 32 matches for CSK taking 47 wickets there. His 2023 IPL season saw him grab 19 wickets helping win the title! That economy rate of 8 across his CSK career shows good control.
CSK retained him for ₹13 Crore ahead of the 2025 season originally. But injuries disrupted his form leading to 13 wickets at 10.13 economy. CSK released him after that, opening the door for this fresh start.
His slingy action generates awkward bounce and pace simultaneously. He enters 2026 fully fit after recovering from injury setbacks. His distinctive action will trouble KKR’s opponents throughout the entire season.
