Chennai Super Kings released Matheesha Pathirana before the IPL 2026 auction recently. This surprised many fans who loved watching him bowl. The young Sri Lankan pacer had injury troubles throughout last season. His performance dropped compared to his brilliant 2023 campaign. Now everyone’s asking – what’s the Matheesha Pathirana IPL 2026 team going to be?
Why CSK Released Matheesha Pathirana
Pathirana hasn’t played cricket since September 2025 really. His last appearance came during the Asia Cup tournament. Injuries kept bothering him throughout the recent IPL seasons badly.
Back in 2023, he was absolutely brilliant for CSK. Pathirana grabbed 19 wickets in just 12 matches that year. His slinging action troubled every batter he faced then. Chennai Super Kings won the title that season with his help.
But IPL 2025 told a different story altogether unfortunately. He managed only 13 wickets the entire season this time. His economy rate also increased significantly during matches. Coach Stephen Fleming noticed something wrong with his bowling action.
Fleming thinks Sri Lanka Cricket changed Pathirana’s technique somehow. Those adjustments affected his natural bowling rhythm negatively. The squad couldn’t rely on him like before anymore.
Will Chennai Super Kings Buy Pathirana Back?
Here’s the interesting part about this whole situation. CSK hasn’t completely closed the door on Pathirana yet. They might bring him back at the auction actually. His previous price was ₹13 crore with the team.
Chennai Super Kings could try buying him at a much lower price. The auction happens in Abu Dhabi on December 16, 2025. If other teams don’t bid aggressively, CSK might swoop in. That would give Pathirana another chance with the yellow army.
Nathan Ellis is already in CSK’s squad as backup though. He gives them an overseas pace option if needed. So, the Super Kings don’t desperately need Pathirana back for IPL 2026 honestly.
Indian pacers like Khaleel Ahmed and Anshul Kamboj are doing well for them already. This might be a reason to let him go too.
What’s Next for Matheesha Pathirana
Pathirana enters the auction pool looking for opportunities now. Several teams need quality fast bowlers for their squads. His 2023 form still attracts interest from franchises definitely.
The Pathirana IPL 2026 team question will get answered soon. Maybe Chennai Super Kings will bring him back home eventually. Or perhaps another franchise takes a chance on him. Either way, he needs to stay injury-free going forward.
