Irfan Pathan
Irfan Pathan lauds KKR’s Pathirana signing, calling their bowling attack perfect for IPL 2026.

Overview:

Matheesha Pathirana's addition to KKR strengthens their IPL 2026 bowling lineup, praised by Irfan Pathan for his skills.

KKR hogged headlines in the IPL 2026 auction by buying Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana for Rs 18 crore. Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan praised the acquisition, saying it gives the team a good bowling lineup capable of handling pressure in the league.

Pathirana has bagged 47 wickets in 32 IPL games at an economy of 8.68, with a standout four-wicket haul, proving his prowess in the death overs. In IPL 2025, he took 13 wickets in 12 matches at a higher economy of 10.13.

“Matheesha Pathirana’s inclusion gives KKR a complete bowling attack for the 20 overs,” Pathan said. “Harshit Rana – Powerplay and Death, Vaibhav Arora – Powerplay; Cameron Green – Middle overs and HTD; Pathirana – Middle overs and Death; Varun Chakravarthy – Powerplay and Middle; Sunil Narine – Middle overs.”

KKR’s lineup includes experience, young talent, and international stars. Matheesha Pathirana, renowned for his pace and lethal yorkers, add more firepower to their death-over attack. Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman (Rs 9.20 crore) brings variety with slower deliveries, while Indian youngsters Akash Deep (Rs 1 crore) and Kartik Tyagi (Rs 30 lakh) provide depth. Spinner Prashant Solanki (Rs 30 lakh) strengthens the spin options.

KKR’s lineup, anchored by retained players Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, and Varun Chakravarthy, promises consistent performances, while the middle overs gain solidity from Sunil Narine and all-rounder Cameron Green. With a balanced bowling unit covering all phases, KKR are poised to be a strong contender in IPL 2026.

V M Suriya Narayanan is a passionate cricket writer who has been following the game since 2007. With a background in Civil Engineering (B.E.), he blends analytical thinking with a deep understanding of...