Chennai Super Kings have signed up the Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana as a replacement for the New Zealand quick Adam Milne, who has been ruled out of the remainder of IPL 2022 with a hamstring injury. Milne suffered the injury during Super Kings' first match of the season, against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 26, and has not featured in the tournament since.
The 19-year-old Pathirana was part of the Sri Lanka squad at this year's Under-19 World Cup in the West Indies, where he played four matches and picked up seven wickets at an average of 27.28 while returning an economy rate of 6.16. Pathirana first came into prominence thanks to his low, slingy action that closely resembles that of the former Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga, and his ability to bowl pacy, late-tailing yorkers.
Imagine how long this action would have lasted in the more regimented world of cricket coaching in this country ... 17-year-old Matheesha Pathirana on his way to 6 for 7 on his debut for @TrinityColKandy in Sri Lanka ... pic.twitter.com/VO4gBPtmY0
— Martin Williamson (@mogodonman) September 27, 2019
At senior level, Pathirana has only played one List A game and two T20 matches, but he has been on Super Kings' radar for a while. Ahead of the 2021 season, they roped in Pathirana as a reserve player alongside the Sri Lanka mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana. Like Theekshana, who was signed for INR 70 lakh at the IPL 2022 auction, Pathirana is now a part of Super Kings' main squad.
According to an IPL release, the defending champions have signed Pathirana for his base price of INR 20 lakh.