Full Name: Matheesha Pathirana
Nickname: “The Slinga,” “Mini Malinga”
Date of Birth: November 18, 2002
Age: 22 years (as of April 2025)
Place of Birth: Kandy, Sri Lanka
Nationality: Sri Lankan
Religion: Buddhist
Profession: Professional Cricketer
Batting Style: Right-handed
Bowling Style: Right-arm fast
Role in Team: Bowler (Fast)
Domestic Teams: Sri Lanka, Colombo Kings, Galle Gladiators
IPL Team: Chennai Super Kings (2025–present)
Jersey Number: 56
Height: 5’8″ (173 cm)
Weight: 70 kg (154 lbs)
Net Worth: Estimated $2 million USD
Early Life and Background
Born in Sri Lanka’s charming city of Kandy, Matheesha Pathirana developed a fondness for cricket from a young age. Growing up in a household with a strong athletic heritage, Pathirana’s father, a former cricket player, fostered his passion for the game by introducing him to it. Pathirana was drawn to bowling right away, and his passion for the sport grew quickly, especially when he watched Lasith Malinga, his idol, who helped him create his unique movement.
Pathirana, who was well-known for his unconventional sling-arm technique, was frequently likened to Malinga and was given the nickname “Mini Malinga.” Early on, he became well-known in Sri Lanka’s juvenile cricket circuits for to his fast pace and lethal yorkers. He played for Sri Lanka in a variety of age-group competitions, winning over selectors with his precision, speed, and capacity to perform under duress. He became one of Sri Lanka’s most promising fast bowlers during the 2020–21 domestic season, which was his big break.
Domestic Career
When Pathirana made his debut for the Sri Lanka national team in the 2021–22 season, his local career took off. He immediately made an impression when playing for the Colombo Kings in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) by claiming important wickets and displaying his quickness and accuracy in the powerplay overs. He became a rising celebrity in Sri Lankan cricket thanks to his impressive LPL performances, especially in the 2021 season.
Pathirana’s success on the home circuit translated into possibilities abroad, and by 2022, he was selected for the 2022 T20 World Cup as a member of the national team. His raw skill and intimidating deliveries secured him a berth in the team even though he wasn’t a regular in the starting lineup. Since then, Pathirana has emerged as a vital component of Sri Lanka’s limited-overs bowling arsenal, especially in T20 internationals, where his quick pace and forceful bowling have been essential in containing opposing sides.
In domestic cricket, he still plays for a number of clubs in the Lankan Premier League and T20 competitions, frequently establishing himself as one of Sri Lanka’s most sought-after fast bowlers. He is a tremendous addition to his teams because of his discipline and deadly yorkers.
IPL Career
When Matheesha Pathirana was selected by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for ₹1.5 crore INR in the 2025 IPL auction, his IPL career officially began. He immediately established himself as a player to watch in the IPL thanks to his sling-arm movement and capacity to bowl at up to 145 km/h. In the 2025 season, he made his IPL debut against the Mumbai Indians. In his maiden session, he took two wickets for 22 runs in his allotted four overs.
His participation in the IPL was notable for his ability to bowl with remarkable precision in the last overs. He was a key member of CSK’s bowling attack and frequently used his speed and yorker skills to get the side back into the game. His Malinga-like movement and gutsy demeanor made him an instant fan favorite and made him the ideal backup to CSK’s more experienced bowlers.
Playing Style
Matheesha Pathirana is well known for his unconventional bowling motion, which is reminiscent of the legendary Lasith Malinga of Sri Lanka. He is now among the most thrilling fast bowlers in international cricket as a result of this movement. Pathirana is known for his speed and ability to bowl regularly in the 140s km/h range, frequently hitting 145 km/h. He is a right-arm fast bowler.
Pathirana’s ability to bowl lethal yorkers, particularly in the vital death overs, is what sets him apart. He is particularly good in T20 cricket, as he stops big hitters with his speed and ability to strike yorkers in the blockhole. He is a difficult bowler to deal with, particularly when pressure is applied, because of his unconventional slinging motion, which creates bounce and shocks the batsman.
In the powerplay overs, Pathirana is particularly useful because of his bounce and quickness, which frequently lead to breakthroughs. He is a clever bowler who relies more on pace than swing, striking the perfect lengths and angles to outsmart the batsman.
Personal Life
Matheesha Pathirana has maintained a quiet profile in his personal life despite his rising stardom in international cricket. His early interest in cricket was greatly influenced by his father, a former cricket player, and he comes from a close-knit family in Kandy. In spite of the demands of playing professional cricket, Pathirana frequently attributes his ability to remain grounded and focused on his family.
In order to combine his demanding cricketing duties with his personal life, Pathirana likes to spend time with his friends and family off the field. He keeps up a rigorous workout routine to preserve his fast bowling skills, demonstrating his dedication for fitness. Like many cricket players, he likes to spend his free time listening to music, particularly international and Sri Lankan tunes.
Pathirana rarely engages in media conjecture and is renowned for his modest demeanor. He frequently shares moments from his training and playing experiences on social media, keeping it focused on his cricketing accomplishments, team news, and personal milestones.
Legacy & Impact
Even though Matheesha Pathirana’s legacy is relatively young, he has already had a profound impact on cricket. He is frequently praised as one of the most intriguing young fast bowlers in international cricket because of his Malinga-like movement. The fast bowling department of Sri Lanka’s limited-overs team has been revitalized by his rise in the sport, especially in T20 internationals and the IPL.
Even though Matheesha Pathirana’s legacy is relatively young, he has already had a profound impact on cricket. He is frequently praised as one of the most intriguing young fast bowlers in international cricket because of his Malinga-like movement. The fast bowling department of Sri Lanka’s limited-overs team has been revitalized by his rise in the sport, especially in T20 internationals and the IPL.
In the upcoming years, Pathirana is probably going to establish himself as a key member of Sri Lanka’s bowling attack due to his aggressive speed bowling and capacity to perform under duress. He has the potential to become one of the best fast bowlers of his age, and his development as a bowler and a leader in the dressing room might cement his legacy in Sri Lankan cricket history.
