Matheesha Pathirana is a right-arm medium-pacer. On Sunday, the Sri Lankan pacer took a wicket while playing his debut match for Chennai Super Kings against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2022. Coming to chase 133 runs, Shubman Gill scored 18 of 17.

Pathirana came to bowl in the seventh over and got the scalp of Gill in his very first delivery.

The quick is regarded as ‘Junior Malinga’ as his bowling style resembles Lasith Malinga.

Pathirana bowled a full delivery that completely foxed Gill. The batter went for a review, but it yielded no result as he was declared out. The gleeful youngster celebrated the wicket with much aplomb.

Paitharana was included in the CSK XI as replacement of compatriot Maheesh Theekshana. As CSK are already out of the playoff race, the team management decided to try out youngsters and they played Pitharana.

During the IPL 2022 season, Paithirana was added as a replacement to the CSK squad after Kiwi speedster Adam Milne had picked up an injury soon after his CSK debut, which saw him ruled out of the season.

The teen sensation was born in Kandy and has not yet played First-Class cricket. He, however, represented India in the ICC U-19 World Cup earlier this year.

The raw talent played only two T20s so far and managed to take two wickets at an economy rate of 8.25.

Paitharana registered himself in the mega auction at a base price of Rs 20 lakh. Chennai Super Kings signed him later during the tournament for the same price as a replacement.

Pathirana also took the wicket of Hardik Pandya to finish the match with 2 for 24.

His outstanding performance, however, went in vain as Gujarat Titans won by seven wickets.

Batting first, the Chennai Super Kings batters struggled against the GT bowling unit. In the powerplay, CSK lost the wicket of Devon Conway and they scored 47/1. Sai Kishore provided GT with a second breakthrough by dismissing all-rounder Moeen Ali for 21 in the 9th over.

Meanwhile, Ruturaj Gaikwad completed his half-century off 44 balls, including 4 fours and one six and this was his 10th fifty in the IPL.