Amazing death ball specialist “Baby Malinga”

Sri Lanka (Commonwealth) _ With his toe-crushing yorkers in the Indian Premier League, young fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana has unsettled the best batters in the world and appears certain to improve Sri Lanka’s chances in the T20 World Cup.

The 21-year-old has only played 12 ODIs and six T20 matches for Sri Lanka, but he has already made a name for himself as a death-over specialist. He was nicknamed “Baby Malinga” because of his unconventional flinging delivery technique, which is reminiscent of fellow countryman Lasith Malinga.

Before leaving the Chennai Super Kings early this IPL season owing to a hamstring issue that left his Sri Lankan colleagues questioning his potential absence, Pathirana claimed 13 wickets in just six matches. All seemed okay, though, as the bowler left with the Wanindu Hasaranga-led Sri Lankan team for the marquee 20-over competition that will take place in the United States and the West Indies on June 1.

Cricket journalist Rex Clementine stated in The Island newspaper that “Sri Lanka are banking on Matheesha Pathirana to turn around their fortunes in the upcoming T20 World Cup.” “Pathirana was a revelation for the Chennai Super Kings during the IPL. He has shown off (a semblance of) his ability to deliver unplayable death overs,” Clementine said.

“If he is able to get his line right without being wayward, he will have a major impact in this competition.” But Malinga told Cricinfo, “I think Matheesha’s biggest quality is his big heart.” “He has a great attitude during the game. We cannot teach him those things. These are qualities that come easily to him. He didn’t feel afraid or doubtful, not even the year he entered the IPL.

“He is capable of doing that if you convince him that this is what we need right now. “He is capable of making choices. He has very clear thinking.” Along with 29-year-old bowler Nuwan Thushara, top selector Upul Tharanga of Sri Lanka has also encouraged the youthful player to strangle opposition batters in the final few overs.

Malinga purrs at the idea of seeing the two together. Because the yorker is the ball that prevents sixes in the T20 format, you hear it mentioned a lot, he said. To have two bowlers in the same competition who are equally capable at bowling yorkers… That’s insane, that’s completely crazy. I believe that the bowling lineup of Sri Lanka is the greatest in the world.

In Chennai’s 20-run victory over the Mumbai Indians this season, Pathirana recorded statistics of 4-28, winning player of the match and overshadowing India skipper Rohit Sharma’s century. In the eighth over, he claimed crucial wickets, including T20 specialist Suryakumar Yadav. At the very end, he returned to dismiss Romario Shepherd with his signature slinging delivery.

Since moving to Chennai, Pathirana has consistently made an impression in the most popular T20 league in the globe. He attributes his success to the guidance of team mainstay and former captain of India, M.S. Dhoni. He essentially acts as my father throughout my cricket career, Pathirana stated on Chennai’s YouTube page.  Like my father when I’m at home, he constantly looks out for me and offers me advise on what has to be done, he continued.

Even if he’s only telling me little things, it makes a big impact and boosts my confidence. Dhoni said last year that Pathirana should avoid tests and concentrate only on the 20-over format. With a wicket celebration that involves folding his hands to his chest and staring skyward—a move the young player acknowledges is modeled after Portuguese football sensation Cristiano Ronaldo—Patriana has also become a favorite of broadcasters.

The 2014 champions, Sri Lanka, take on South Africa in New York on June 3 to start their World Cup campaign. They will also play group stage matches against Bangladesh, Nepal, and the Netherlands.

He was included in Sri Lanka’s team for the 2020 Under-19 Cricket World Cup before making his Twenty20 debut.He was included in Sri Lanka’s squad for the West Indies 2022 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in January 2022. ..He played a crucial role in the Chennai Super Kings team’s 2023 IPL title victory. In the IPL 2023 season, he took 19 wickets. He was the youngest player from outside the country to win an IPL trophy.

He was included on the SLC Greys 2021 SLC Invitational T20 League roster in August of that same year. On August 22, 2021, he played in the 2021 SLC Invitational T20 League for SLC Greys, making his Twenty20 debut.

He inked a contract with the Chennai Super Kings in April 2022 to play in the Indian Premier League in lieu of Adam Milne. It was disclosed that MS Dhoni’s influence expedited Pathirana’s recruitment to the Chennai Super Kings for the 2022 season, and Dhoni’s guidance helped the team thrive. Dhoni reportedly saw video footage of Pathirana bowling at a Kandy local school cricket tournament in 2021. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dhoni also indicated his desire to see Pathirana play in the Indian Premier League in 2021. He then sent a letter requesting that Pathirana get vaccinated and join the CSK club in the United Arab Emirates.