Meet Junior Lasith Malinga ready to roll in style

Mumbai: Ravindra Jadeja-led Chennai Super Kings announced the replacement of Adam Milne. The New Zealand bowler was injured during the first match of IPL 2022 against Kolkata Knight Riders.

The injury was so severe that Milne had to bear the brunt of it by being out of the tournament. Chennai Super Kings have included 19-year-old Sri Lankan Mathisha Pathirana in their squad as a replacement for Milne.

Mathisha Pathirana is also known as ‘Junior Malinga’ because of his action and Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s eyes were on this player for many years.

The 19-year-old Pathirana was part of the Sri Lanka squad in this year’s Under-19 World Cup in the West Indies, where he played four matches and took seven wickets at an average of 27.28.

During this his economy was 6.16. Pathirana has made a lot of headlines in his early career due to his action. His action is very similar to that of former Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga.

Not only his action, but he also has the talent to bowl yorkers like Malinga. At the senior level, Pathirana has played only one List A match and two T20Is.

Mathisha Pathirana has been on the radar of Super Kings for quite some time now. Ahead of the 2021 season, he included Pathirana as a reserve player along with Sri Lankan mystery spinner Mahesh Thekshana.

Dikshana was included in this year’s auction by Chennai for Rs 70 lakh and now Mathisha Pathirana has also found a place in CSK’s squad after Milne’s injury.