IPL 2024 MI vs CSK: Matheesha Pathirana says keeping calm is one of secrets of success
The CSK bowler picked up four wickets, including two in one over, to derail MI’s chase
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Chennai Super Kings’ slinger-bowler Matheesha Pathirana returned with figures of 4/28 as he kept Mumbai Indians in check to help CSK post a 20-run win in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.
Pathirana, playing his third match for CSK this season, was on the money from the first ball, sending Ishan Kishan back to the hut and accounting for the dangerous Suryakumar Yadav in the same over to put brakes on Mumbai Indians’ scoring.
He came back to account for Tilak Varma, breaking a 60-run partnership, and then castled Romario Shepherd to leave Mumbai, wanting answers.
Rightly awarded the player-of-the-match, Pathirana said staying calm was one of the secrets to his success. “When we were bowling in the powerplay, I was pretty nervous. I was told to keep it calm and do my thing, and that gave me confidence today,” he said after collecting his player-of-the-match award.
Pathirana has a sling-shot action, akin to Lasith Malinga, and that makes him difficult to read most of the time. The Sri Lankan bowler also has different variations up his sleeve and mixes it up well, making it even more difficult for the batters.
The Sri Lankan bowler said his thoughts are always on the execution of his plans and said if he is able to stick to his plans, rewards will follow. “I don’t think too much about results, I am just concerned with my execution. If I execute, I will get my rewards. Sometimes, I have to change my plans depending on the batters,” he added.
The 21-year-old bowler credited CSK’s support staff for backing him and making him the lethal bowler that he is. “I was struggling with a bit of a niggle two weeks ago, but the support staff all backed me, and that’s been the main reason for my form,” he concluded.
CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad lauded his bowler and commended the way he executed his plans and yorkers. “Our Malinga (nickname for Pathirana due to his action) bowled really well today; he nailed those yorkers,” he said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
