Former Indian wicket-keeper bat Saba Karim has expressed surprise after Chennai Super Kings decided to release Matheesha Pathirana. Karim said the franchise was grooming and mentoring the Sri Lankan fast bowler since he made his IPL debut in 2022.
Pathirana has scalped 47 wickets in 32 IPL matches at an average of 21.62 and an economy rate of 8.68. The fast bowler hogged the limelight in IPL 2023 when he scalped 19 wickets in 12 matches for CSK. He bowled with an average of 19.52 and an economy rate of 8 in that season of the tournament.
Pathirana has the skills to nail the blockhole and he was effective for the five-time champions in the death overs.
“I actually was surprised because they have really invested heavily in Pathirana. They have groomed and mentored him, and he has delivered for CSK on a number of occasions. The fact remains that Pathirana plays in various global leagues. So he has got enough experience of bowling in these conditions or against top-quality batters,” Saba Karim said on Star Sports.
The former Indian selector said CSK should have invested a little more in Pathirana.
“Last season, although he didn’t leave on a very high note, he is such a young and exciting talent. You could have always worked more on him and instilled more faith so that he was able to deliver once more. So that was one of the big surprises for me in terms of release for CSK,” Saba observed.
On the other hand, CSK have traded in Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals in exchange of Sam Curran and Ravindra Jadeja. Former Indian captain Anil Kumble highlighted that Samson has a lot of experience of playing in Chennai.
“That’s exactly how Chennai is going to go about it, because they need to strengthen not just with the younger lot, which they have done. I know Sanju Samson is still young, but he has the experience of being a part of the IPL for a long period of time, and he has probably played in Chennai more than anywhere else,” he replied.
“So, in that sense, he is more a Chennai person. CSK will certainly have to look beyond the aging stars that they have always had. So that’s one thing they have done, moving Ravindra Jadeja to the Rajasthan Royals. Their bowling attack, however, will have to be strengthened, with Pathirana not being there,” Kumble observed.
The IPL 2026 auction is likely to be scheduled on December 15.
