Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made a bold and expensive statement at the IPL mini auction by securing Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana for a whopping ₹18 crore. With this deal, Pathirana has become the most expensive Sri Lankan cricketer ever sold in IPL auction history.
Pathirana, who played for Chennai Super Kings in previous seasons, attracted strong interest as soon as his name came up at the auction. Initially, Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals engaged in an intense bidding war, pushing the price rapidly upward. At a crucial moment, KKR entered the contest and stunned the table by placing the winning bid of ₹18 crore.
This purchase comes close on the heels of KKR’s biggest buy of the auction, Cameron Green, who was earlier signed for ₹25.20 crore. With back-to-back high-value acquisitions, KKR has clearly signalled its intent to build a strong and competitive squad for the upcoming IPL season.
Matheesha Pathirana made his IPL debut in 2022 and has been a consistent performer for CSK since then. Groomed under the guidance of MS Dhoni, the young pacer carved a reputation for his slingy action and death-over effectiveness. Chennai Super Kings released him ahead of this auction, opening the door for other franchises to make a move.
Across his IPL career so far, Pathirana has featured in 32 matches for CSK and picked up 47 wickets, emerging as one of the most promising fast bowlers in the league. Now, he is set to begin a new chapter with Kolkata Knight Riders, where he is expected to play a key role in the bowling attack.
