IPL 2022 Auction: ’New Lasith Malinga’ in town Among the Sri Lankan cricketers who have proved their mettle in the Indian Premier League, Lasith Malinga’s name comes first. The pacer played 122 matches in this competition and picked up 170 wickets – making him a Mumbai Indians legend. Though he has hung his boots up, it seems that the Island nation has successfully unearthed a new version of Malinga. The youngster is part of the IPL 2022 mega auction for a base price of Rs 20 lakh. Follow IPL 2022 updates on InsideSport.IN
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IPL 2022 Auction: ’New Lasith Malinga’ in town, will IPL franchises grab the young Sri Lankan bowler?
New Lasith Malinga: Matheesha Pathirana, a 19-year-old pacer from Kandy, has caught everyone’s attention for his ‘slingy’ bowling action, which seems to be a carbon copy of Malinga’s style.
Pathirana has also earned the nickname of ‘Junior Lasith Malinga’ for his action.
A student of the Trinity College of Kandy, where Kumar Sangakkara also spent his formative years, Pathirana is currently representing his nation in the ongoing ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
IPL 2022 Auction: ’New Lasith Malinga’ in town, will IPL franchises grab the young Sri Lankan bowler?
The Lankan pacer has picked up 5 wickets in his three matches at an average of 25.80 and an economy rate of 5.60 runs per over. This competition, however, is not his first moment under the sun.
Pathirana played in the last edition of the U19 Cricket World Cup as well, and has made a name for himself for his express pace.
He picked up a six-wicket haul in his debut game for Trinity College, while in a game against India U19 back in 2020, he launched a bullet of a delivery that notched 175 kmph on the speed gun. However, it was later revealed that the reading was incorrect owing to a technical fault.
IPL 2022 Auction: ’New Lasith Malinga’ in town, will IPL franchises grab the young Sri Lankan bowler?
He could be the new Malinga – 17 year old Matheesha Pathirana who took 6 wickets for 7 runs on his debut game for Trinity College in Kandy, Sri Lanka #Cricket pic.twitter.com/FyNg0yCuoL
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) September 27, 2019
Could Chennai Super Kings be interested in Pathirana?
The Kandy-lad is yet to receive his first IPL contract, but should be well aware of how the competition and the franchises go about in their business, as he has spent a season with the Chennai Super Kings.
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Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s team called up Pathirana, alongside his Sri Lankan teammate Maheesh Theekshana, as a reserve bowler for the last edition of the IPL. It will not be a surprise if the four-time champions put in a bid for the 19-year-old in the mega auction which will be held on 12th and 13th February. The player is a part of the Uncapped Fast Bowlers 4 (UFA4) set and has a base price of INR 20 lakhs.
IPL 2022 Auction: ’New Lasith Malinga’ in town, will IPL franchises grab the young Sri Lankan bowler?
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