Matheesha Pathirana

A bowler with a distinctive slingy action, Matheesha Pathirana made his international debut for Sri Lanka national cricket team in August 2022 during the Asia Cup against Afghanistan national cricket team. It wasn’t a debut to remember as Sri Lanka lost by 8 wickets, with Pathirana conceding 16 runs in his only over. His ODI debut came against the same opposition in 2023, where he picked up 1 wicket, but Sri Lanka once again ended up on the losing side.

Despite that start, Pathirana has grown into an important T20I bowler for Sri Lanka. In the shortest format, he has emerged as a genuine wicket-taking option, picking up around 40+ wickets in just over 25 matches at an average close to 21, highlighting his effectiveness as a strike bowler. His ability to deliver in crunch moments was evident during the series against Afghanistan in 2024, where he produced a match-winning spell of 4/24 and was named Player of the Match. Known for his skiddy pace, yorkers and awkward angles, Pathirana has often been used in the powerplay and death overs, where he has chipped in with crucial breakthroughs rather than just containing runs.

Despite a modest start to his international career, Pathirana quickly made a name for himself in franchise cricket in the Indian Premier League. He emerged as one of CSK’s most trusted bowlers during their title-winning campaign in 2023, picking up 19 wickets in 12 matches and excelling in high-pressure death overs with his yorkers and deceptive variations. His ability to execute under pressure made him a key figure in several close wins for the side. He followed it up with another impressive showing in IPL 2024, where despite an injury-curtailed season, he managed 13 wickets in just 6 matches, further showcasing his effectiveness as a strike bowler in the shortest format.

Having already established himself as a dangerous T20 operator, Pathirana now heads into IPL with Kolkata Knight Riders, where he is expected to play a pivotal role in their bowling attack. Known for thriving in crunch situations, he is likely to be entrusted with the responsibility of closing out innings and breaking key partnerships. While his impact in T20 cricket is already proven, the upcoming season will be crucial in determining how consistently he can deliver across different conditions. If he stays fit and maintains his wicket-taking form, Pathirana has all the tools to be one of the standout bowlers of IPL and potentially spearhead KKR’s pace unit.