Matheesha Pathirana, a certified pianist and vocalist, hails from a musical family in Kandy. His parents, Anura and Shailika, are both trained singers. Initially exploring various musical instruments, Matheesha aspired to become a pilot, motivated by his mother's dreams and his own desire to see the world. Although he continues to travel extensively, he has not pursued a career in aviation. In a surprising turn, he developed a profound passion for cricket that eclipsed all other interests.

The story of Matheesha Pathirana's cricketing career is uniquely remarkable. It does not fit the typical narrative of rising from humble beginnings to sporting greatness, nor does it solely reflect cricketing prowess. Instead, it embodies an extraordinary blend of the natural and the unexpected. Consider this: a Sri Lankan teenager with minimal exposure to cricket is discovered and nurtured by the Indian franchise Chennai Super Kings, where he learns the intricacies of the game and eventually represents his country, all under the guidance of the franchise's legendary player, MS Dhoni. This phenomenon can only be described as unnaturally natural.

In the Pathirana household, music and academics were the primary pursuits, with Matheesha being the youngest sibling. He humorously recalls that his two older sisters would "treat him like a lab rabbit." When asked about him, his sisters would describe Matheesha as "not a bad boy," yet also "not entirely innocent."

Early life from baseball to cricket

Matheesha's journey into sports began with baseball, as he had no connection to cricket until the seventh grade. It was only when his seniors at school recognized his innate talent with the ball that they invited him to join their cricket practice. He accepted the invitation but had to assure his parents that he would prioritize his studies. "I told him I would only allow him to play cricket if he focused on his studies. He agreed, but he never opened a book. During parent-teacher meetings, the teachers would tell me that my son was always gazing out the window," recounted Shailika, Matheesha's mother, in a video shared by CSK.

His school coach recalls recognizing his potential at an early stage: "That delivery was unusual, but it was effective. We chose not to alter it—only to enhance it." As Matheesha began bowling consistently in U15 and U17 cricket matches, he noticed parallels with Sri Lankan cricket legend Lasith Malinga. "Many people remarked that my action resembled Malinga's. They asked, 'Why don't you bowl like him?'" Matheesha shared.

His unique bowling style, characterized by a slinging motion, impressive speed, and innate talent, caught the attention of Chaminda Vaas, another Sri Lankan cricket icon. Vaas extended an invitation for him to come to Colombo and enroll at Trinity College, the most prestigious private school in Sri Lanka, renowned for nurturing sporting excellence.

Matheesha's career gained momentum when a brief video showcasing his six-wicket haul during his debut on turf in an age-group match went viral. His Instagram following experienced rapid growth, and he soon became part of the national framework after being selected for the Sri Lanka U19 team. Although his performance in the 2000 World Cup was not outstanding, his potential was widely recognized. However, this recognition also brought criticism, with many labeling him as a "wannabe Malinga."

‘Father’ MS Dhoni and journey with CSK

The next pivotal chapter in Matheesha's journey began when Lakshmi Narayanan, the video analyst for CSK, was captivated by one of his bowling clips. Lakshmi monitored Matheesha's performance in the T10 league in Abu Dhabi and quickly recommended him for the CSK training sessions.

"MS had never encountered Pathirana before. Upon witnessing him in the nets for the first time, he recognized his potential," stated CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan.

Maheesh Thikshana, a spinner from Sri Lanka who was part of the CSK team at the time, requested additional videos of Matheesha and urged his parents to apply for an Indian visa, as CSK was seeking a replacement. While traveling from Colombo to Kandy after submitting their visa application, the Pathirana family received the news that Matheesha had been selected to join the CSK squad as a substitute for the injured New Zealand fast bowler Adam Milne in IPL 2022.

Since that moment, he has been guided by Dhoni. The iconic cricketer took it upon himself to mentor Matheesha as if he were his younger brother. "I cannot express my gratitude for MS Dhoni. He is truly like a deity. Matheesha holds his father in high regard, and he extends that same respect to Dhoni," remarked Matheesha's mother.

"In Sri Lanka, you are my father, and in India, it is MS Dhoni," his father added.

"I regard MS Dhoni as a father figure due to the immense support he has provided me in cricket, akin to the support my father offered at home," Matheesha expressed.

When Matheesha first met Dhoni, the then CSK captain welcomed him by calling him "Mali," which translates to younger brother in Sri Lanka. He has indeed become one in Dhoni's eyes.

Matheesha took 19 wickets for CSK in 12 matches and played a pivotal role in their championship victory in IPL 2023. His unique yorkers and formidable bouncers became essential tools for CSK during the death overs.

In IPL 2024, Matheesha participated in only six matches due to an injury, yet Dhoni's commitment was evident as CSK retained him for ₹13 crore, marking Matheesha as the franchise's first fast bowler to be retained ahead of a major auction.

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