Matheesha Pathirana bought by KKR for INR 18 crore at IPL Auction 2026

On Tuesday, December 16, the 22-year-old Sri Lanka National Cricket Team pacer Matheesha Pathirana got a new contract in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Matheesha Pathirana, who had set his base price as INR 2 crore, was sold to KKR at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini auction for INR 18 crore at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

CSK released Matheesha Pathirana ahead of IPL 2026 Auction

The Sri Lankan pacer with the slingy bowling action, Pathirana, made his debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, donning the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) jersey.

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He played just two matches in his debut season, but shone brightly in the next season as he played 12 games and bagged 19 wickets.

Pathirana quickly became a main man of the CSK pace attack, but the franchise shocked everyone by releasing the pacer after the IPL 2025 season. Overall, he has picked up 47 wickets in the IPL in 32 games.

Robin Uthappa hails Matheesha Pathirana

Speaking on Star Sports during the mock auction, former India batter Robin Uthappa, who was representing KKR, showered rich praise on Pathirana. He purchased Pathirana for ₹13 crore at the mock auction and said that he can be very effective at death for the team.

"It’s all about planning and keeping things simple. We needed a good death bowler. With the kind of coaching staff KKR have, Pathirana can be very effective at the death. He has been a little off colour recently and has gone back into the auction pool, which I think will make him more motivated to perform.

"A change of franchise can also help. With Pathirana, Varun Chakravarthy, and Vaibhav Arora, if you’re asking who bats in the first XI, it would be Vaibhav Arora. Also, Varun has been working on his batting, he’s not too far away from clearing the ropes either," he said.

Also Read: Cameron Green’s INR 25.20 Crore IPL deal leaves BCCI INR 7.20 Crore richer after auction