The Sling Has Lost Its Sting? – Matheesha Pathirana’s Curious Fall

Once hailed as Sri Lanka’s next Lasith Malinga, 21-year-old Matheesha Pathirana — the “Baby Malinga” who burst into the IPL even before playing for his country — now finds himself on the edge, struggling for a place in not one, but two upcoming World Cups.

Two years ago, he was MS Dhoni’s secret weapon. Today, he’s a bowler looking for rhythm, direction, and a bit of luck. What went wrong?

From CSK’s Miracle Find to National Team Mystery

It all started when MS Dhoni, always ahead of the curve, spotted Pathirana’s raw pace and pushed Chennai Super Kings to give him a shot. Under Dhoni’s watch, Pathirana was a revelation — lethal yorkers, skidding bouncers, and nerves of steel in the death overs.

At CSK, his role was simple and effective: bowl yorkers, surprise with the occasional short ball, and listen to Dhoni’s mid-over guidance. No overthinking, no fancy tricks — just pace and precision. It worked like magic.

Lost in Translation

Then came the move back home. In the national setup, things got complicated. Coaches began tweaking his action, his variations, even his match role. Suddenly, the sling was swinging awkwardly, and the confidence started leaking away.

In recent tournaments, Pathirana looked like a different bowler — slower, uncertain, and easy to read. The same arm that once delivered thunder now seemed burdened with too much advice and too little clarity.

Too Many Cooks in the Bowling Lab

Pathirana’s action is unique — low-slung and quick through the air. Trying to make him swing the new ball like Malinga might be a mistake. At CSK, he bowled after the tenth over, with fields set for damage control. In Sri Lanka colors, he’s been pushed into roles that don’t fit his natural rhythm.

Too many technical inputs can drain instinct, and that’s exactly what seems to have happened. Pathirana looks coached to confusion.

What Sri Lanka Needs to Do

The solution isn’t another bowling camp. It’s a return to basics. Let Pathirana bowl to his strengths — pace, yorkers, angles. Don’t turn him into something he’s not. Dhoni trusted his rawness; maybe Sri Lanka should too.

If the management can rediscover that simplicity, the young pacer could still become the strike weapon everyone once believed he would be.

Bottom Line

Matheesha Pathirana doesn’t need to be reinvented — he needs to be released. The boy who once lit up the IPL still has that fire. All he needs is space to breathe, bowl, and believe again.