Matheesha Pathirana: Sri Lanka’s Rising Speed Star Nicknamed “Baby Malinga”

Matheesha Pathirana is a young Sri Lankan cricketer who has quickly captured attention with his fast bowling. Here’s a breakdown of his cricketing journey so far:

• Baby Malinga: Nicknamed for his slingy bowling action resembling the legendary Lasith Malinga, Pathirana is known for generating good pace.
• Early Recognition: Represented Sri Lanka in the U19 World Cup squads of 2020 and 2022, showcasing his talent early on.
• International Debut: Pathirana made his international debut for Sri Lanka’s T20I team in August 2022 against Afghanistan.
• IPL Career:
  • Pathirana was picked by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as a replacement for the injured Adam Milne in the 2022 IPL season.
  • He impressed with his death-bowling skills, taking 19 wickets in 12 matches and finishing as the third-highest wicket-taker for CSK.
  • Pathirana was recently declared fit to participate in the IPL 2024 season, raising excitement among CSK fans.

With his ability to bowl yorkers and deceive batsmen with pace variations, Matheesha Pathirana is a promising young fast bowler for Sri Lanka and a valuable asset for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.