Matheesha Pathirana Debut, Biography, Stats, Net Worth, Wife, IPL Team, Records, Career
Mathisha Pathirana is one of Sri Lanka’s most exciting young fast bowlers in recent years. Renowned for his impressive bowling, Pathirana has impressed cricket fans worldwide with his death overs. From domestic cricket in Sri Lanka to prominent roles in leagues like the IPL and LPL, Pathirana’s journey is one filled with dedication, talent, and passion.
Born and raised in Kandy, Mathisha Pathirana had a keen interest in cricket, especially fast bowling. He idolized Lasith Malinga and inspired his bowling style from the Sri Lankan legend. His round-arm action and ability to bowl accurate yorkers quickly caught the attention of cricket experts.
Domestic Career
Mathisha Pathirana began his domestic career with SLC Grays in the SLC Invitational T20 League in 2021. He made his T20 debut on August 22, 2021, and surprised everyone with his control over line and length despite his young age.
He made his first-class debut for Nugegoda SWC against Nondescripts Cricket Club in Colombo on October 7, 2022. His rapid progress in domestic cricket led to his early selection in the national team.
Interestingly, Pathirana represented Sri Lanka in the Under-19 World Cups in 2020 and 2022. During the 2020 edition, one of his deliveries against India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal was clocked at 175 km/h (108 mph). However, this was a technical measurement error. Nevertheless, it put him on the global map.
International Career
For Matheesha Pathirana, his international journey started in 2022 and went on to gain momentum thereafter:
- May 2022: He was selected for the T20I series against Australia but had to withdraw because of injury.
- August 2022: He made his T20I debut against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup 2022.
- March 2023: Selected in Sri Lanka’s ODI and T20I squads for the series against New Zealand.
- June 2, 2023: ODI debut vs Afghanistan-He got his first wicket by dismissing Rahmat Shah.
- June 2023: Named in Sri Lanka’s squad for the ICC ODI World Cup Qualifiers.
- May 2024: Named in Sri Lanka’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2024, consolidating his position as one of Sri Lanka’s premier fast bowlers.
His breakout moment came in a T20I against Afghanistan when he took 4/24 to help Sri Lanka win the match, for which he was awarded Player of the Match. Since then, he has been an integral part of Sri Lanka’s limited-overs setup.
IPL Career
Pathirana’s rise to fame picked up speed the moment he joined the IPL with CSK. Under the mentorship of MS Dhoni, Pathirana had a phenomenal growth as a death-over specialist.
| Year | Team | Role | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Chennai Super Kings | Bowler | Replaced Adam Milne; took Shubman Gill’s wicket with first ball in IPL. |
| 2023 | Chennai Super Kings | Bowler | 19 wickets in 12 matches; economy 8.01; helped CSK win the IPL title. |
| 2024 | Chennai Super Kings | Bowler | Returned after hamstring injury; strong death-over performances. |
| 2025 | Chennai Super Kings | Bowler | Bought for ₹13 crore at mega auction — second most expensive CSK signing. |
He acquired the art of being calm and executing death bowling under the mentorship of Dhoni. His ability to execute yorkers consistently made him one of the best emerging pacers in T20 cricket.
Career Stats
Bowling
| League | Odi | T20i | First Class | List A | T20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matches | 10 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 30 |
| Innings | 10 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 30 |
| Overs | 65.4 | 1.0 | 20.0 | 85.5 | 100.4 |
| Maidens | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Runs | 431 | 16 | 54 | 556 | 814 |
| Wickets | 15 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 38 |
| Average | 28.73 | 0 | 13.5 | 34.75 | 21.42 |
| Strike Rate | 26.26 | 0 | 30 | 32.18 | 15.89 |
| Economy | 6.56 | 16 | 2.7 | 6.47 | 8.08 |
| Best Bowling | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| 4 Wickets | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 Wickets | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Batting & Fielding
| League | Odi | T20i | First Class | List A | T20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matches | 10 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 30 |
| Innings | 5 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 |
| Not Outs | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Runs | 5 | 5 | 0 | 13 | 17 |
| Balls Faced | 16 | 12 | 7 | 45 | 32 |
| Average | 1.25 | 5 | 0 | 2.6 | 4.25 |
| Strike Rate | 31.25 | 41.66 | 0 | 28.88 | 53.12 |
| Fours | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Sixes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Highest Score | 4 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 8 |
Records and Achievements
- Youngest Sri Lankan to take 4 wickets in a T20I (vs Afghanistan, Feb 2024)
- Bowled a 175 kph delivery in the 2020 U19 World Cup.
- Took a wicket with his first-ever IPL delivery, Shubman Gill, 2022
- IPL Champion 2023 with Chennai Super Kings.
- Asia Cup 2022 Winner with Sri Lanka.
- Labelled by pundits in 2024 as one of the most promising emerging pacers in T20 cricket.
Personal Life
Off the field, Matheesha Pathirana leads a very modest and down-to-earth life. While fame keeps on rising with him, he has not forgotten his musical family background.
- Father: Anura Pathirana (Guitarist)
- Mother: The former rhythm guitarist of “Salalihiniyo” band
- Sisters: Vishuka and Tharindi (both musicians)
- Hobbies: Playing piano and singing
- Nickname: “Baby Malinga”
He does not speak publicly about his wife or relationship status, and Pathirana prefers to keep his private life away from public eyes.
Net Worth, Cars & House
The net worth of Matheesha is around $500,000 USD. He has earned mainly through cricket contracts, league participation, and brand endorsements.
Although details concerning his car collection and home are not public, sources say he lives comfortably in Kandy with his family.
Conclusion
Matheesha Pathirana is the prototype of the next era of Sri Lankan fast bowlers: raw, fearless, and supremely talented. From being known as “Baby Malinga” to an integral part of Sri Lanka and CSK, his journey has only just begun. With dedication and growing experience, Pathirana is all set to become one of the finest pacers in international cricket.
FAQs: Questions & Answers
Q1. When did Matheesha Pathirana make his international debut?
Matheesha Pathirana made his T20I debut on 27 August 2022 against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup 2022. On 2 June 2023 he made his ODI debut against Afghanistan and took his maiden international wicket.
Q2. For which IPL team does Matheesha Pathirana play?
Pathirana plays for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League. He joined the team in 2022 as a replacement for Adam Milne and since then has emerged as an important death bowler under the mentorship of MS Dhoni.
Q3. At what speed does Pathirana bowl?
Matheesha Pathirana is known for his pace and regularly clocks 140–150 km/h. During the 2020 U19 World Cup, one of his deliveries was recorded at 175 km/h, though later corrected as a technical glitch.
Q4. What are the major achievements of Matheesha Pathirana?
- Took 4-24 against Afghanistan, winning Player of the Match.
- IPL champion 2023, with CSK
- Youngest Sri Lankan to take a 4-wicket haul in T20Is.
- He was instrumental in Sri Lanka’s victory in the 2022 Asia Cup.
Q5. What is Matheesha Pathirana’s net worth and salary?
Pathirana’s net worth is approximately $500,000 USD, while his 2025 IPL contract is worth ₹13 crore. His other sources of income include match fees from the Sri Lankan Cricket Board and league payments from LPL and SA20.
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