It’s the end of the road between Matheesha Pathirana and Chennai Super Kings.
The Sri Lankan pacer penned an emotional farewell to the franchise that shaped his IPL career after CSK chose to release him
ahead of the IPL 2026 auction — and then stayed out of the bidding altogether.
Pathirana eventually sparked a fierce auction tussle, with Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants initially in the hunt before Kolkata Knight Riders swooped in to secure him for ₹18 crore.
Across four seasons in yellow, Pathirana played 32 matches and claimed 47 wickets, emerging as one of CSK’s most trusted death-bowling options.
Taking to Instagram, the 22-year-old reflected on what the franchise meant to him beyond numbers.
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“From a boy with a dream to wearing yellow with pride. CSK gave me more than just cricket; it gave me belief, confidence, and a family I will always cherish,” Pathirana wrote.
The young pacer admitted it hurt not to finish his CSK stint the way he had hoped — particularly falling short of the 50-wicket milestone.
“From 2022 till the end of 2025, every moment in yellow shaped me as a cricketer and as a person. I always wanted to finish my last season with CSK on a special note, to give my best till the end and reach 50 wickets for this incredible franchise. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make that happen, but the dream and the effort were always from the heart.”
Pathirana reserved special thanks for MS Dhoni and the CSK management.
“I am forever grateful to Dhoni bhai for the guidance and trust, Kasi sir and the management for believing in me, my teammates for standing by me like brothers, and every loyal CSK fan who supported me through every high and low,” he wrote.
“Chennai will always feel like home, and yellow will always have a special place in my heart.”
Pathirana was a core figure in CSK’s IPL 2023 title win, finishing the season with 19 wickets at an average of 19.53.
Injuries limited him to six games in 2024, though he still picked up 13 wickets. His final season in 2025 proved tougher, as he managed 13 wickets in 12 matches while struggling for consistency.
Now, a new chapter awaits — one in purple; but the yellow will always linger.
