Every IPL auction cycle gives us one big surprise, but CSK releasing Matheesha Pathirana, the same bowler they once protected like family silver, feels like the twist no one saw coming. This is the same Pathirana who tore through line-ups in 2023 with 19 wickets in 12 matches, an outrageous average of 19.52, and ice-cold death-overs temperament. That season, he didn’t just bowl yorkers; he practically copyrighted them.
CSK paid ₹13 crore for him last year, but now releasing him ahead of 2026 is almost certainly a strategy play. They’ve done it before: release, let the price deflate, buy back smarter. Whether they try that or not, the market has already shifted. Three franchises need him more than CSK ever did, and the auction room will know it.
A One-Bowler Attack Won’t Survive 14 Games
Gujarat Titans have spent the last two seasons trying to duct-tape their overseas pace department together. Gerald Coetzee didn’t fit, Dasun Shanaka was a stopgap, and their experiments with Karim Janat never settled anything.
With only one notable overseas quick in Kagiso Rabada, who played just four games last season, GT’s pace cupboard is almost shockingly bare.
What they need is:
- A death-overs specialist
- Someone who can partner with Rabada without duplicating roles
- A proven IPL performer with 47 wickets in just 32 matches
Pathirana ticks every box. GT’s Indian pacer trio, Siraj, Prasidh, and Ishant, is excellent with the new ball but lacks a finisher. Pathirana gives them a defined role and immediate clarity. And for a team that’s used to playing crunch overs in Ahmedabad, sling-arm pace at the death is gold dust.
LSG’s Injury-Riddled Attack Needs a Different Gear
Lucknow’s fast-bowling last season resembled a hospital waiting room. Indian pacers broke down one by one, and the franchise never recovered. They tried to fix things through trades, bringing in Mohammed Shami and Arjun Tendulkar, but here’s the catch: They currently have zero overseas fast bowlers.
- Will O’Rourke? Released.
- Shamar Joseph? Released.
- Death overs? A recurring nightmare.
Pathirana solves a structural flaw:
- Shami rules the powerplay
- Pathirana rules the final 4 overs
- The balance writes itself
LSG doesn’t just need him; they’re the team most desperate for a finisher. In a side full of all-rounders and utility players, Pathirana gives them a rare thing: a specialist who controls chaos.
KKR’s Death-Overs Rebuild Starts with One Name
KKR letting go of Anrich Nortje, Spencer Johnson, and Andre Russell (as a bowler) leaves one glaring gap who bowls overs 17–20?
Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora can start the innings, sure. But without Starc (gone after 2024) and without Russell’s cutters, KKR’s death-overs identity is currently a blank sheet. Pathirana restores a rhythm they haven’t had since the prime Sunil Narine Russell era:
- Unorthodox release
- Low trajectory
- Yorker artillery
- Proven composure in finals
On Eden Gardens’ skiddy surface, sling-arm pace becomes even harder to pick. If any franchise is ready to go all-in for Pathirana’s specialist skill, it’s the one that reinvented itself tactically in 2024.
And a 23-year-old with 47 IPL wickets, a rare action, and proven big-match temperament is never going unsold. In fact, he may become one of the auction’s most intriguing value picks, a gamble that feels risky only until he nails his first yorker at 150 km/h. Expect bids. Expect drama. Expect a sling-arm revival.
Key Takeaway
Pathirana’s release isn’t a setback; it’s a market opportunity waiting for three desperate franchises.
FAQs
1. What makes Matheesha Pathirana valuable despite a poor 2025 season?
His proven IPL death-overs record, unique action, and 47 wickets in 32 matches give him long-term upside.
2. Why did CSK release Pathirana after paying ₹13 crore?
To reset his auction value after an injury-affected season and potentially buy him back cheaper.
3. How can Pathirana improve a team like LSG or KKR?
He provides the one skill both lack: dependable death-overs bowling.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.
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