Matheesha​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Pathirana was a highly envied fast bowler in the IPL auction and after a heated bidding war between Chennai Super Kings, Lucknow Super Giants, and Kolkata Knight Riders, the latter got him on board for a whopping 18 crores. The enormous amount of money spent exemplifies the high demand for those who can effectively bowl the death overs in T20 cricket.

Pathirana is not just another foreign pacer for KKR. The franchise has loaded a player who has a history of performing under intense pressure and being able to dominate the most difficult part of a T20 innings. By hitting pinpoint yorkers, changing velocity smoothly, and doing so under pressure, Pathirana has made himself one of the most intimidating death-over bowlers in the league.

KKR’s move to use their entire budget on the player underlines that their main goal is to shore up their bowling with a top-class finisher who can both defend totals and break partnerships at the crunch.

Pathirana’s path in the IPL is quite phenomenal. After he was signed as a replacement at a very low base price of ₹20 lakh, he debuted with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2022 season. The raw speed and unusual slingy style of delivery reminiscent of Lasith Malinga must have been what convinced CSK to take the young Lankan under their wing.

The success of the gamble came almost straight away. The accuracy of Pathirana in the death overs and his ability to keep calm under pressure made him a key weapon in CSK’s bowling unit, a role which he used to heavily contribute to their success in the following seasons.

In a format where matches can be 99% decided by the last few balls, bowlers who can be relied upon at the death become some of the most valuable assets. Pathirana’s skill set is what makes him one of the world’s top T20 bowlers and it includes blistering speed, trickery, and in particular being able to bowl a perfect yorker.

The war of bids between CSK, LSG, and KKR showed how much the franchises have changed their minds and now it is specialists who can do the last few overs that matter the most and not just the usual all-rounders or power-hitters.

When Pathirana is ready to wear the KKR purple and gold, many will be expecting great things. Given his track record in the IPL and the fact that he keeps getting better with his international stint for Sri Lanka, he could very well be a pivotal figure in KKR’s campaign who also fills their bowling strategy blueprint for future seasons.

A once low-cost replacement player to an ₹18-crore marquee signing – Matheesha Pathirana’s rise is an example of how quickly fortunes can change in the IPL, especially those who master the art of winning games at times of ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌pressure.