Mathisha PathiranaSri Lankan fast bowler with unique sling-shot action surprisingly released Chennai Super Kings (CSK) next to Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Mini auction.
Nicknamed ‘Baby Malinga’, his unorthodox action and accurate death over yorkers played him a vital role in CSK’s 2023 title win. Pathirana’s release, despite his previous retention at Rs 13 crore, appears to be a calculated, high-risk move by the CSK management to free up significant purse space and potentially buy him back at a lower price in the auction, or a reflection of recent injury concerns and a subpar IPL 2025 season where his economy rate has dipped over 10. Given his age and specialist skills, he remains the most coveted death-bowling overseas commodity in the auction pool.
5 franchises that can target Mathisha Pathirana in IPL 2026 auction
1. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
KKR is entering the auction with the biggest war chest, which is shocking INR 64.30 crores Like the purse is left after releasing many expensive players andre russell And Venkatesh IyerThis huge budget allows them to bid aggressively for marquee players without any fear, KKR’s current team composition, although strong in spin, lacks a world-class, dedicated fast bowler, especially one who can bowl in the death overs, Pathirana, with his proven match-winning ability in high-pressure situations, will perfectly fill the void of a premier overseas fast bowler, KKR need an established finisher for their bowling unit and Pathirana fits that profile perfectly, making him a perfect fit for them top bowling targets,
2. Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Despite releasing him, CSK will undoubtedly be one of the leading contenders to regain Pathirana. After the historic trade of Ravindra Jadeja And Sam CurranCSK still has a big purse INR 43.40 croresThe logic behind his release was to bring him back at a price lower than his Rs 13 crore retention cost, as they were in dire need of bowling reinforcements after major changes in the team, However, the move has been labeled ‘high risk’, and reports indicate they are willing to buy him back, His familiarity with the team, his home circumstances and the legacy he nurtures ms dhoni make stones ideal bowling components To rebuild CSK.
3. Delhi Capitals (DC)
Delhi Capitals has a good treasury INR 21.80 crores And he is looking to strengthen his pace attack to complement Mitchell Starc. Although they have retained Dushmantha Chameera, the team needs a reliable, specialist death bowler, a role they have often missed. Pathirana’s career economy rate in death overs is 9.16 Is excellent for the IPL, and his sling action offers the kind of unusual threat that can disrupt pace on flat Delhi tracks. Adding Pathirana gives DC a Second, high impact foreign fast bowler Who is adept at balancing his intact spin and batting units at the most crucial phase of the innings.
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4. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Sunrisers Hyderabad enters mini-auction INR 25.50 crores A clear order to reorganize the balance and their bowling attack, especially after the trade Mohammed ShamiSRH’s batting is often aggressive, but their bowling unit has been heavily criticized for poor death over execution, has retained pat cumminsSRH needs a second high-quality overseas fast bowler who can handle the pressure. Pathirana would be the ideal partner for Cummins, offering a contrasting, but equally devastating, death-over option. His young age and upside matches perfectly with SRH’s historical investment strategy Young, fast bowling talents,
5. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
Current champion RCB has enough money INR 16.40 crores and a significant gap in their pace attack, releasing their leading Indian fast bowler, Renuka Singh ThakurAlthough they will likely use their RTM card on Renuka, they still need a world class overseas speed option for support Josh HazlewoodPathirana provides a real point-of-difference For their attack. If they decide not to use RTM on Renuka, or if they decide to use their final overseas slot for a specialist fast bowler, Pathirana’s unmatched skill in the death overs makes him an instant game-changer for a team whose historic bowling issues often resurface in high-stakes matches.
Also read: IPL 2026: Robin Uthappa reveals his picks for CSK’s top 3 in the upcoming edition