IPL 2026 auction sees the most debated moment Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ₹18 crore spent on Sri Lankan fast bowler Mathisha PathiranaA player who was released by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) just a few months ago. Now, KKR co-owner Janhvi Mehta has revealed the clear thinking behind what many initially described as a risky move.
Janhvi Mehta talks about KKR’s bold call for Mathiesha Pathirana
According to Mehta, the decision was not emotional or reactive, but a calculated response to KKR’s biggest weakness during the IPL 2025 season – ineffective death bowling.
Speaking about the auction strategy in an interview with MyKhel, Mehta revealed that KKR’s management conducted a detailed review of the last season and found a recurring issue.
“I think one of the major shortcomings we identified last year was the lack of an experienced death bowler, and that cost us in a lot of important situations.” He said.
KKR lost several tight games in the final overs in IPL 2025, where inability to finish the innings proved costly. It became the top priority for the franchise to lock down that specific role before going into the mini-auction.
After analyzing the auction pool, KKR felt that the market offered too few reliable death over specialists with proven IPL credentials.
Mehta himself revealed this to stone And Mustafizur Rahman fits the profile that KKR were looking for.
“When there is such limited supply, only Pathirana and Mustafizur really fit the proven IPL profile with death bowling expertise,” He said.
With almost every franchise looking for a reliable finisher with the ball, KKR were expected to make an intense bid. Their intrinsic valuation was around ₹15-16 crore, but they were ready to increase it further to avoid default.
Why did KKR demand ₹18 crore for Pathirana?
As the bidding increased, KKR decided to go beyond their initial comfort zone.
“Everyone wants a reliable death bowler, so we knew it would cost around Rs 15-16 crore. We tried a little more because he was the top priority, reached Rs 18 crore, and we managed to secure him,” Mehta explained.
The franchise believes the premium price reflects scarcity rather than overvaluation, especially in a league where death over specialists can directly change the outcome.
Why did CSK let Pathirana go and why does KKR still have faith in him?
CSK released Pathirana after a modest 2025 season, partly to free up around ₹13 crore in the purse. However, KKR are supporting the bowler’s earlier work, especially his exceptional IPL 2023 campaign, where he took 19 wickets in 12 matches and played a key role in CSK’s title win.
Pathirana’s Lasith Malinga-style slinging action, extreme yorker accuracy and raw pace are skills that KKR see as rare commodities in the current market.
KKR also believes that Pathirana’s skillset is tailor-made for Eden Gardens, where flat pitches and short boundaries regularly produce high-scoring contests.
At such venues, a bowler who can bowl yorkers under pressure becomes invaluable. KKR sees Pathirana as a potential match-winner in tight matches, capable of defending small scores or chasing the target in the last over.
