5 reasons why CSK must retain Matheesha Pathirana ahead of IPL auction

Discover why Chennai Super Kings should retain Matheesha Pathirana in the IPL auction. From death bowling to long-term value, here are five key reasons.

Matheesha Pathirana (Image Credit: Chennai Super Kings)

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have made some shocking decisions in the recent trade trends ahead of the upcoming IPL 2026 auction. They have released traded Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to Rajasthan Royals (RR) and have taken Sanju Samson in return. Amidst the trades, CSK are reportedly set to leave Matheesha Pathirana as well, which is likely to be a huge disappointment for the Men in Yellow since he has been incredibly outstanding in the previous seasons. In this article, we’ll discuss the reasons why CSK must retain Pathirana for the upcoming season.

Here are five reasons why CSK must retain Matheesha Pathirana ahead of IPL auction:

Matheesha Pathirana has been one of the best death bowlers in the world. His deliveries are unplayable towards the end of the game because of his speed, line, and length. Hence, leaving him would be a mistake for CSK since he has taken several wickets in the previous seasons of the IPL. Moreover, Pathirana has shown his capability in the death overs and hence, deserves to be in the team.

2. Perfect successor to Dwayne Bravo

When CSK had Dwayne Bravo, he had the same role as Pathirana, to come in and bowl wide yorkers and dismiss the batters. While Pathirana does bowl a lot of wide deliveries, some of the balls have also given him wickets. He comes in after the 12th over and takes wickets, giving the crucial breakthroughs to the team. Having him around is a plus point for CSK, as in most of the matches he is reliable and has taken an ample amount of wickets.

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3. A bowler tailor-made for Chepauk

With the kind of wicket Chepauk Stadium, Chennai, has, Pathirana fits well in the equation. He has taken many wickets in the past through the help of the wicket. After watching the other bowlers from the start, Pathirana takes good advantage of the pitch conditions, maintains his line and length and takes a wicket. He is an important bowler for CSK now that CSK don’t have players like Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur.

4. Still young with a high ceiling

Interestingly, Pathirana is just 22 years old and has a long way to go. Like how CSK shaped Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, and other cricketers when they were young, the management should look forward to grooming Pathirana as well. If they keep him in the squad and help me become a better player, it will be beneficial for the team in the long run.

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5. A strong bond with CSK culture

The most important thing for CSK should be how Pathirana has a bond with the team and understood the culture while being present with the team. He has been a part of the team for a long time now and knows how things work around here. Hence, his performance is likely to get better with time in the team.

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