Pallekele, Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana has publicly credited the legendary speedster Lasith Malinga for his return to form following lengthy bouts of injury and difficulties with his bowling pace. The 23-year old pacer shared his return journey to form during the opening T20 International against England, which he dominated in the form of figures like 1/18 in just four overs despite losing to Sri Lanka in a rain-curtailed cricket match.

Pathirana admitted that injuries took an impact on his bowling technique and his confidence over the last two years and that limited him to 2 T20Is with Sri Lanka in 2025 and eventually led to his being let go to CSK. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) following his IPL twenty25 campaign.

Challenging Phase and Return to Rhythm

The sling-arm is a signature motion, Pathirana has battled a major shoulder injury which affected the natural point of release as well as general rhythm. He acknowledged that his body adapted automatically to the physical strain creating subtle shifts in his bowling actions.

“It was a tough time with injuries. I lost my rhythm. I put in a lot of effort to return to this standard,” Pathirana said, in a post-match interview.

Despite these setbacks pacer showed his control in the England T20I in bowling with only a few wides — a significant improvement from the earlier struggles with consistency.

Lasith Malinga’s Role in the Comeback

Pathirana has highlighted the role played by Lasith Malinga who has been working with Sri Lanka as part of their coaching setup for fast-bowling in preparation for the T20 World Cup. This former Sri Lankan great, known for his iconic bowling style and countless training drills has helped Pathirana improve his fundamentals and gain confidence.

“More Recently Malinga aiya was at Sri Lanka helping out, and all the coaches from SLC -not just oneeveryone assisted me in getting there,” Pathirana added.

Malinga’s influence was reportedly centered on basic drills that were repetitive rather than large technological changes, allowing Pathirana to build his speed and strength step-by-step.

Impactful Performance Against England

In the first T20I of the series against England the performance of Pathirana was notable in a well-organized bowling performance. He took his wicket from Tom Banton and ended the match in the economy category with a rate of 4.50, even bowling two overs during the powerplay, something that was not originally planned but was later adapted to during the match.

Although Sri Lanka was eventually set back by a collapse and lost by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, Pathirana’s spell provided a glimpse of his returning form.

From IPL Setback to New Opportunities

The transition from one franchise to another has also been noteworthy. After being let go by CSK after 2025’s IPL season, in which the injuries as well as form concerns restricted his performance, he signed a lucrative agreement in the form of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for Rs18 crore in advance of IPL 2026 and demonstrates confidence in his future.

This decision demonstrates the way his dedication and recovery is being embraced by franchise teams seeking out effective pace options for T20 games.

Looking Ahead: World Cup and Beyond

As approaching the T20 World Cup approaching, Sri Lanka will rely heavily on its pace bowlers and the return of Pathirana gives significant momentum. Alongside senior pacers such as Dushmantha Chameera, and promising talent such as Eshan Malinga the Sri Lankan seam attack is well-balanced, as teams get ready for the important tournaments to come.