Former Sri Lanka U-19 pace bowler Matheesha Pathirana joined the Chennai Super Kings as a replacement for Adam Milne after the Kiwi speedster picked up an injury soon after his first game in the yellow color. Pathirana warmed the benches for quite some time, but today, he finally received his maiden cap in the IPL match against the Gujarat Titans.
Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first at the Wankhede Stadium. Ruturaj Gaikwad scored a fine fifty at the top for the Chennai-based franchise as they finished with 133/5 in their 20 overs on a tough wicket.
Wicket-keeper batter Narayan Jagadeesan played his first match of the season today against the Gujarat Titans. The Tamil Nadu player supported Gaikwad with a knock of 39 runs. Speaking with the host broadcasters after the first innings, Jagadeesan said:
“The wicket was a bit sticky. It was two-paced. But I think we are 15-20 runs short. Everybody got their own plans, it’s about the execution. if we execute correctly, I think it’s game on. It will be the fast bowlers (who will hold the key). When they keep changing their pace, it’s a bit tricky for the batters.”
Fans react as Matheesha Pathirana kicks off his IPL career in style
Matheesha Pathirana has been a talking point ever since he received a contract from the Chennai Super Kings. The reason behind it is that he has a bowling action that is similar to former Sri Lankan cricket team captain Lasith Malinga.
Back during his days as an active cricketer, Malinga was a top performer for the Mumbai Indians, but his junior Pathirana is playing for rival team Chennai Super Kings. He kicked off his IPL career in style with a great yorker which trapped Shubman Gill in front of his stumps. Here’s how fans reacted:
Baby Malinga is here. pic.twitter.com/qbvwlEuO2H
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 15, 2022
Extremely weird seeing Malinga bowl for CSK and not against them
— Dave (@CricketDave27) May 15, 2022
Lasith Malinga is well and truly here pic.twitter.com/ubHRMMYBJz
— Heisenberg ☢ (@internetumpire) May 15, 2022
Jr. Malinga ,
Welcome to the ipl Matheesha Pathirana,
First ball wicket in debut match ..
What a start #CSKvsGT pic.twitter.com/LeID9VDKcdAdvertisement— MSDIAN FOREVER (@Akshay_MyName) May 15, 2022
M Pathirana's release point is perhaps a tad lower than even Malinga's release.
AdvertisementIt would take time for a batter to adjust. Not exactly surprising that he picked up a wicket off his first ball in IPL.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) May 15, 2022
Malinga/Pathirana swinging the ball in is worth taking a deeper look at. Look at the seam. It's not conventional. Almost a drifter. Drifting into pads. pic.twitter.com/xcOeoSCB9F
— Flighted Leggie 🏏 (@flighted_leggie) May 15, 2022
Malinga right now pic.twitter.com/UKXEsJdKp1
— neeraj (@MSDfan_KLTiger) May 15, 2022
Baby Malinga arrived Straight Away! Wow
— Sharukh (@StanMSD) May 15, 2022
Wicket off first ball in IPL career!
19-year-old Matheesha Pathirana, famous for his Lasith Malinga-like action, is here…🔥#CSKvsGT #IPL2022 #CSK pic.twitter.com/F6HrvCT6Mr
— CricXtasy (@CricXtasy) May 15, 2022
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Our very own malinga is here 🔥🔥🔥#CSK #CSKvsGT #IPL2022
— MaayoN ᶜˢᵏ 🦁 🎩💫 (@itz_satheesh3) May 15, 2022
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Wicket off a first ball in his debut game!
Baby Malinga has announced his arrival🔥
AdvertisementMatheesha Pathirana😍#MatheeshaPathirana #IPL #IPL2022 #CSKvsGT #CSKvsGT #Cricket #CricketWinner pic.twitter.com/GPHCpGDnjY
— Cricket Winner (@cricketwinner_) May 15, 2022
Baby AB playing for MI.
Baby Malinga playing for CSK.
Multiverse of madness.#IPL pic.twitter.com/TyJWA2BpqJ— Rutu fan (@Abhishe91414030) May 15, 2022
