The IPL 2026 auction, which is set to take place on December 16 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi is shaping up to be a tense and closely watched event as franchises reshape their line-ups following the November 15 retention deadline.
One of the names expected to draw significant attention is Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana, whose rising reputation makes him a prized option for teams keen to strengthen their pace departments.
Matheesha Pathirana
Matheesha Pathirana, the young, promising Sri Lankan fast bowler renowned for his unique sling-arm action has always been compared to the legendary Lasith Malinga. Ever since his debut, he has specialized in death-overs bowling, utilizing raw pace and accurate yorkers. Pathirana had a mixed IPL 2025 season for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), taking 13 wickets in 12 matches at a higher economy (around 10.13) than his previous years, leading to his release by CSK ahead of the 2026 auction as part of their rebuilding strategy.
Matheesha Pathirana IPL Stats
In the IPL for CSK, the Sri Lankan scalped 47 wickets in 32 matches (Avg 21.62, Econ 8.68), especially potent in death overs, even taking a hat-trick in IPL 2024 and a 4-fer in IPL 2024. His career shows strong performance across seasons, peaking in 2023 with 19 wickets and solid 2024 figures, though IPL 2025 saw a dip in average but continued wicket-taking.
Matheesha Pathirana IPL 2026 Auction Slot
Matheesha Pathirana is the no. 29 player in the IPL 2026 auction list. The Sri Lankan pacer belongs to Set Number 4, in the FA1 category.
What is the Base Price of Matheesha Pathirana?
Matheesha Pathirana has a base price of Rs 2 crore in the IPL mini auction. He is among the 45 players with Rs 2 crore base price.
IPL 2026 Auction: When will Matheesha Pathirana arrive at Auction Table?
The IPL mini-auction will get underway at 2:30 PM IST on Tuesday, but Matheesha Pathirana is unlikely to come up early in the proceedings. Placed in Set No. 4, the Sri Lankan pacer’s turn is expected later in the evening, possibly around or after 5 PM, depending on how quickly the earlier sets move and the order in which names are drawn within his group.