Matheesha Pathirana is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer born on December 18, 2002. Known for his unique sling-style bowling action, he is often dubbed as "Baby Malinga" due to his resemblance to Lasith Malinga’s bowling style. Pathirana showcased his skills in the 2020 and 2022 U19 World Cups, gaining recognition for his impressive speed and accuracy. His performances caught the eye of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who signed him during the 2022 IPL season as a replacement for the injured Adam Milne.
| IPL Debut Year | 2022 |
| IPL Teams | Chennai Super Kings |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Role | Bowler |
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| Bowling Style | Right Arm fast |
| Current Auction Price | INR 13 crores |
| Last IPL Season wickets | 13 |
Matheesha Pathirana IPL Teams from 2022-2025
Pathirana has only been associated with CSK in his IPL career so far. He made his debut with the Super Kings in 2022, where he did not get many wickets but successfully made an impression on CSK management with his bowling action, which led him to be a consistent performer for Dhoni and his team since his arrival in the league. CSK retained him for two years at INR 20 lakh but recently for the 2025 IPL, Pathirana got retained at INR 13 crore which made him the second most expensive retention for the franchise.
Matheesha Pathirana IPL Auction Price
Initially, Matheesha Pathirana went unsold in the 2022 IPL Auction. However, he was signed by the Chennai Super Kings when their seam bowler, Adam Milne, sustained an injury. He did not get enough matches to prove himself but his bowling action somehow convinced the management to invest in the newcomer for the future.
CSK retained him in 2023 at INR 20 lakh and Pathirana rewarded management for their decision and gave important contributions to the team in the 2023 IPL which led CSK to win their fifth title. In 2024, he was retained by the franchise at INR 20 lakh but could not manage to play all the due to injuries and his absence was visible in the team.
The franchise realized his importance and ahead of IPL 2025, they retained the pacer at INR 13 crore along with other five important players on October 31st, 2024.
| Year | Team | Price |
| 2022 | Chennai Super Kings | INR 20 lakh |
| 2023 | Chennai Super Kings | INR 20 lakh |
| 2024 | Chennai Super Kings | INR 20 lakh |
| 2025 | Chennai Super Kings | INR 13 crore |
Matheesha Pathirana IPL Wickets Year-wise
Matheesha Pathirana has only played 20 games in three seasons where he has taken 34 wickets at an economy of 7.88. He was the third-highest wicket-taker for the champion side in the 16th edition of the league.
| IPL Season | Mat | Ov | Runs | Wkts | Avg | Eco | Bst | 4w |
| 2024 | 6 | 22 | 169 | 13 | 13.00 | 7.68 | 4/28 | 1 |
| 2023 | 12 | 46.2 | 371 | 19 | 19.53 | 8.01 | 3/15 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2 | 6.5 | 52 | 2 | 26.00 | 7.61 | 2/24 | 0 |
| Overall | 20 | 75.1 | 592 | 34 | 17.41 | 7.88 | 4/28 | 1 |
Matheesha Pathirana as a Bowler
| Matches | Wickets | Average | Economy | 5-wicket Haul |
| 20 | 34 | 17.41 | 7.88 | 0 |
Similar Pages
FAQ's On Matheesha Pathirana IPL Career
A. Matheesha Pathirana is 21 years old, as of November 2024.
A. Matheesha Pathirana made his IPL debut on 15 May 2022 against Gujarat Titans at Wankhede, taking two wickets for 24 runs in 3.01 overs.
A. Matheesha Pathirana plays for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.
A. Matheesha Pathirana made his international debut on 27 August 2022 against Afghanistan in Dubai in the T20 format.
