Age
22
Player Skill
Bowler
Batting Style
Right Handed
Bowling Style
Right-arm fast
Test Ranking: N/A
Matheesha Pathirana
Matheesha Pathirana, a promising young cricketer from Sri Lanka, has captured the attention of cricket enthusiasts worldwide with his raw talent and potential. Born on July 12, 2002, Pathirana hails from the town of Baduraliya in Sri Lanka. He made headlines in October 2019 during a U19 One-Day International (ODI) match against India when he bowled at a record-breaking speed of 175 km/h, making him one of the fastest bowlers in cricket history at the age of just 17.
Pathirana’s rapid rise in the cricketing world earned him a spot in Sri Lanka’s U19 squad, where he showcased his remarkable pace and bowling prowess. His ability to consistently clock speeds exceeding 140 km/h has marked him as a rare talent with immense potential.
While his early career has been marred by injuries, including a stress fracture in his back, Pathirana’s determination and resilience have been evident in his swift recovery and return to the field. His performance in domestic cricket has further solidified his reputation as a promising fast bowler, and he continues to garner attention from selectors and cricket fans alike.
With the right guidance and support, Matheesha Pathirana has the potential to become a formidable force in Sri Lankan cricket and make a significant impact on the international stage in the years to come.
Personal details
| Full Name | Matheesha Pathirana |
| Date of birth | December 18, 2002 |
| Age | 21 |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Height | 187 cm in meters |
| Current team | Chennai Super Kings (CSK) |
| Position | Bowler |
| Batting style | Right hand Bat |
| Bowling style | Right arm Fast |
| Jersey number | 99 |
| Started playing | August 27, 2022 |
| Family members | Father – Anura Pathirana Mother – Not known |
Teams
- Sri Lanka
- Chennai Super Kings
- Desert Vipers
- Bangla Tigers
- Colombo Strikers
- Kandy Falcons
- Nondescripts Cricket Club
- Rangpur Riders
- Sri Lanka Under-19s
- Trinbago Knight Riders
Career
Domestic career
In August 2021, Matheesha Pathirana made his Twenty20 debut for SLC Greys in the SLC Invitational T20 League. In April 2022, he joined the Chennai Super Kings for the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL) as a replacement for Adam Milne.
MS Dhoni’s intervention fast-tracked Pathirana into the team after Dhoni saw his bowling footage from a local school cricket match in Kandy. Pathirana made his IPL debut against the Gujarat Titans, taking a wicket off his first ball. He later joined the Kandy Falcons for the Lanka Premier League. In the 2023 IPL, he played a crucial role for CSK, learning the nuances of T20 cricket under Dhoni’s mentorship and finishing with 19 scalps in 12 matches.
International career
In May 2022, he was included in Sri Lanka’s T20I squad for the series against Australia but couldn’t play due to injury. Later in August 2022, he was named in Sri Lanka’s T20I squad for the 2022 Asia Cup, making his T20I debut against Afghanistan on 27 August 2022.
Moving to March 2023, he found himself in both the ODI and T20I squads for the series against New Zealand. His ODI debut came on 2 June 2023, against Afghanistan, where he claimed his first ODI wicket by dismissing Rahmat Shah.
In June 2023, he was selected in Sri Lanka’s 15-member squad for the ICC ODI World Cup qualifier. During the first T20I against Afghanistan, Pathirana delivered a match-winning bowling spell, taking 4/24 which included 2 wickets in the penultimate over, earning him the player of the match award as Sri Lanka won by 4 runs.
