New Zealand fast bowler Adam Milne, who played the opening game of IPL 2022 for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), has been ruled out of the remaining tournament. Milne suffered a hamstring injury in CSK’s first match against Kolkata Knight Riders and has been undergoing medical treatment since then.
The defending champions have signed Sri Lankan medium pacer Matheesha Pathirana as Milne’s replacement.
Pathirana was a part of Sri Lanka’s U-19 World Cup squads in the 2020 and 2022 editions. He will join CSK at the price of INR 20 Lakh.
Welcome Matheesha Pathirana, the Young pace 💪into the SuperFam🦁#Yellove #WhistlePodu 💛 pic.twitter.com/C7FURylQeS
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 21, 2022
Pathirana is famous for his slinging action just like legendary Lasith Malinga. In 2019, a video of Pathirana went insanely viral on social media, where he was seen emulating Malinga.
Imagine how long this action would have lasted in the more regimented world of cricket coaching in this country … 17-year-old Matheesha Pathirana on his way to 6 for 7 on his debut for @TrinityColKandy in Sri Lanka … pic.twitter.com/VO4gBPtmY0
— Martin Williamson (@mogodonman) September 27, 2019
The right-armer has so far played only one List A and two T20 matches. But, he has been on the Super Kings’ radar for a while.
Ahead of the 2021 IPL season, they roped in Pathirana as a reserve player alongside the Sri Lankan mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana. Like Theekshana, who was signed for INR 70 lakh at the IPL 2022 auction, Pathirana is now a part of CSK’s main squad.
