Chennai Super Kings look set to release Matheesha Pathirana, the exciting yet increasingly fragile Sri Lankan quick, before Monday’s retention deadline. The franchise bought the seamer in 2023, kept him on their books for INR 13 crore during last year’s mega-auction, but form and fitness have since drifted.
Pathirana burst on to the IPL scene in 2023: 19 wickets, 12 outings, a title in the bag, and that whippy Lasith Malinga-style action regularly touching 145kph. Back then, captain MS Dhoni advised Sri Lanka Cricket to “manage him carefully” if they wanted a long-term asset. Two seasons on, those words ring true. The 22-year-old has been hampered by a hamstring strain, assorted niggles, and, according to Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming, an altered release point “that’s knocked his rhythm”.
The numbers tell the tale. He managed only seven matches in 2024, then 13 wickets in 12 games this year at an economy rate the wrong side of ten. A brief stint in South Africa’s SA20 ended prematurely, and his most recent competitive appearance came at September’s Asia Cup.
Releasing Pathirana frees up a chunky slice of Chennai’s purse ahead of the 16 December auction in Abu Dhabi. The franchise also plan to cut loose Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra, while an eye-catching trade has sent Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to Rajasthan Royals in exchange for Sanju Samson. All up, CSK could walk into the auction room with one of the larger budgets.
None of this rules out a reunion. Team insiders admit they may still bid for Pathirana if the price and medical reports look right. In plain terms, though, a bowler once viewed as a spearhead now counts as a calculated risk.
For Pathirana, the next few weeks matter. A clean bill of health, a tidy showing in Sri Lanka’s domestic competition, and the slingy yorkers might yet fetch fresh interest. For Chennai, the priority—one voiced by Fleming all season—is simple: clarity over a player whose promise has been clouded by constant rehab.
