Matheesha Pathirana is a name buzzing in the world of cricket. He is a young fast bowler from Sri Lanka. Pathirana has caught the attention of fans globally. His unique bowling style makes him stand out. He is currently a key player in major T20 leagues. This includes the highly popular Indian Premier League (IPL).
The “Baby Malinga”: A Unique Bowling Action
Many people call Matheesha Pathirana “Baby Malinga”. This nickname comes from his bowling action. It looks very similar to Lasith Malinga’s style. Malinga was a legendary fast bowler from Sri Lanka. Like Malinga, Pathirana bowls with a low, slinging arm action. This is not a common style.
This round-arm action makes it hard for batters. They find it difficult to predict the ball’s path. The ball comes from an unusual angle. Pathirana uses this unique style effectively. It helps him surprise batters and take wickets. His action is his most talked-about feature.
Rising Through the Ranks
Pathirana first showed his talent in Sri Lanka. He played cricket for Trinity College in Kandy. His unusual action got noticed early. He soon played for Sri Lanka’s Under-19 team. He represented his country in the U19 World Cup. This platform helped showcase his potential to a wider audience. He proved he could perform at higher levels.
IPL Stardom with Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
The Indian Premier League (IPL) gave Matheesha Pathirana a huge stage. He joined the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) team in 2022. CSK is one of the most successful teams in the IPL. Initially, he joined as a replacement player for a base price.
His performances quickly impressed everyone. He became known for his death bowling skills. Death overs are the final overs of a T20 match. Bowling well under pressure in these overs is crucial. Pathirana showed he could handle this pressure. He took important wickets for CSK. His ability to bowl accurate yorkers (balls aimed at the batter’s feet) is a major strength.
CSK recognized his value. Ahead of the IPL 2025 season, they retained him. His salary saw a massive increase to INR 13 crore (approximately 1.5 million USD). This shows how important he is to the team’s plans.
In the current IPL 2025 season, Pathirana continues his vital role. After recovering from an injury that made him miss the start of the season, he is back in action. As recently as April 5, 2025, he bowled crucial death overs for CSK against Delhi Capitals. He took key wickets, proving his worth once again. He often bowls the 18th and 20th overs, trusted with closing out the innings.
Playing for Sri Lanka
Matheesha Pathirana also represents his country, Sri Lanka. He made his debut for the senior national team a few years ago. He brings his unique pace bowling skills to the international stage. Sri Lanka sees him as a future star. They hope he will lead their bowling attack for many years. He is becoming an increasingly important part of the Sri Lankan T20 and ODI (One Day International) squads.
Key Strengths and Skills
Pathirana’s main weapon is his Malinga-like action. But he has other skills too.
- Pace: He can bowl fast, often surprising batters with his speed from a low release point.
- Yorkers: He bowls yorkers very accurately. This makes it hard for batters to score runs in the final overs.
- Death Bowling: He performs well under pressure, especially at the end of an innings.
- Wicket-Taking Ability: His IPL statistics show a good strike rate. This means he takes wickets regularly. His best IPL figures are an impressive 4 wickets for 28 runs.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Like many fast bowlers, especially those with unusual actions, Pathirana faces challenges.
- Injuries: His action can put stress on his body. He suffered a hamstring injury in 2024 which cut his IPL season short. He also missed the start of the 2025 IPL due to fitness concerns. Staying fit is very important for his career.
- Consistency: Young players often need time to become consistently effective in all conditions. Pathirana will continue to develop this aspect of his game.
Despite these challenges, the future looks very bright for Matheesha Pathirana. He has guidance from experienced players and coaches at CSK. He has already shown he can succeed at the highest level.
Conclusion
Matheesha Pathirana is one of the most exciting young talents in cricket today. His “Baby Malinga” bowling action makes him unique and thrilling to watch. He has already made a significant impact in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings. He is also a growing force in Sri Lankan international cricket. Fans around the world will be watching his progress closely. If he manages his fitness well, Matheesha Pathirana has the potential to become a true global superstar of the game.