Overview:
Pathirana ranked among the top overseas pace options at the IPL 2026 auction and got the second-highest bid overall.
Sri Lankan quick Matheesha Pathirana attracted a massive Rs 18 crore price tag at the IPL 2026 auction, with Kolkata Knight Riders sealing the deal on Tuesday. He was bought after an outstanding ILT20 outing, where he claimed figures of 3 for 19 and earned Player of the Match award in Sharjah Warriorz’s win over the Gulf Giants. While some doubts are there about his consistency following changes to his bowling action, teammate Adil Rashid believes Pathirana’s unpredictability is his biggest strength and could make him a decisive X-factor in the upcoming season of the IPL.
“Pathirana’s bowling action is unusual. It has some resemblance to Lasith Malinga, but it’s even more unconventional than Malinga’s,” Rashid told NDTV.
“In T20 cricket, consistency isn’t as crucial as it is in one-day cricket. The format is more about unpredictability, where deliveries can vary,” he added.
“He came here, played a couple of games, and won the ‘Player of the Match’. He’s an X-factor bowler, and he’s an asset. A real match-winner. It was no surprise that he went for big money at the IPL. Credit goes to him,” Rashid mentioned.
Pathirana ranked among the top overseas pace options at the IPL 2026 auction and got the second-highest bid overall. The Sri Lankan fast bowler has taken 47 wickets in 32 appearances in the league so far.
The Sri Lankan pacer made a decisive contribution after being brought in as an Impact Player, finishing with three wickets from four overs. His spell powered Sharjah Warriorz to their second consecutive ILT20 victory.
Adil Rashid admitted that the Impact Player concept is not clear to him.
“From my perspective, the Impact Player rule can still be a bit unclear at times, mainly because it’s a fairly new addition.
“It’s a difficult one when it comes to deciding whether I’m in favour of it or not. It can be confusing, but I do see the idea behind it,” he concluded.