IPL 2025: CSK's main bowler is getting hammered in SA 20, creating a headache for the team management ahead of IPL

Matheesha Pathirana is not in good form and he's getting hammered in the SA 20 which is causing a headache for the CSK team management ahead of IPL 2025

Matheesha Pathirana, a key bowler for five times IPL winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Sri Lankan Cricket team, has been struggling to perform well in recent times and he has given away a lot runs off his bowling. 

Currently representing the team of Joburg Super Kings (JSK) in the SA 20, he recently bowled three overs versus the Durban Super Giants (DSG) and in those three overs, the Pacer gave away 34 runs at economy 11.33 ,including seven wide balls. Though he picked up a wicket, he still didn't bowl according to his standards and proved to be really expensive. 

The 22-year-old has taken part in two SA 20 encounters so far and in those two games, he has picked up just a single wicket and has given away runs at an astonishingly high economy rate of 10.71.

Not only this, in the recently concluded three-match T20 International series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, Pathirana managed to dismiss just two batters and gave away runs at an average of 12 runs per over. 

What's the reason behind his poor form with the ball?

The Young seamer's boiling action is similar to the legendary Lasith Malinga. While releasing the ball, his hand action is slightly lower than that of Malinga. In this case, due to the slingy action, the youngester had developed a muscle strain in his bowling hand last year and once he recovered from this issue, he changed his bowling action slightly. 

The change which he has made is in the throwing position which is now higher than Malinga's throwing position. This slight change is causing issues for him and batsman are taking full advantage of this.

Due to this change in his bowling action, the 22-year-old is constantly changing his line and length. Since the threat of an injury looks at any time if he bowls using his old action, he has no other choice but to bowl in a different way. Therefore, it's believed that the Sri Lankan seamer won't be able to create any kind of impact with the ball in the upcoming IPL 2025 season.

Do CSK have any potential replacements for Pathirana? 

Nathan Ellis is the replacement for Pathirana. This Australian pacer has been in tremendous bowling form off late and inn particular, his ability to bowl slow balls in an accurrate way is troubling the Big Bash batters. Therefore, it is believed that if Pathirana is injured at the beginning of the 18th season, Ellis will play as a replacement.

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