Chennai Super Kings Release Matheesha Pathirana – Reports

Chennai Super Kings released Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana from their squad before the retention deadline.

Chennai Super Kings have decided to release Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana ahead of the IPL 2026 season. The franchise made this decision on Saturday, just before the IPL retention window closed at 3 PM.

CSK had originally purchased Pathirana ahead of IPL 2023 and retained him before the 2025 mega auction for INR 13 crore. The team had been considering their future plans for the bowler before making this final decision.

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Injury Concerns and Performance Dip

Pathirana made a strong impression during IPL 2023 when CSK won the championship. He took 19 wickets in 12 matches with an economy rate of 8.01. His unique slingy action and ability to swing the ball at speeds exceeding 140 kph made him a notable player.

Former captain MS Dhoni had cautioned that Pathirana needed careful management by Sri Lanka Cricket to ensure a long career. This warning proved accurate as the bowler has faced multiple injury problems over the years.

Pathirana’s recent performances have been affected by fitness issues. He last played international cricket during the Asia Cup in September. A hamstring injury limited his participation in IPL 2024, and he later left the SA20 tournament early while playing for Joburg Super Kings.

During IPL 2025, Pathirana’s performance declined significantly. He took 13 wickets in 12 matches with an economy rate of 10.13. CSK head coach Stephen Fleming expressed concern about this drop in impact during the season. He suggested that changes to the bowler’s release point by Sri Lanka Cricket might be causing difficulties.

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CSK may consider buying back Pathirana at the auction scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi. Throughout his IPL career, Pathirana has played exclusively for CSK, taking 47 wickets in 32 matches with an average of 21.61 and economy of 8.68.

The franchise is expected to have significant funds available for the auction after also releasing other players including New Zealanders Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra. CSK recently traded Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to Rajasthan Royals in exchange for Sanju Samson.