Irfan Pathan Praises KKR's Enhanced Bowling Line-Up with Matheesha Pathirana

KKR's Bowling Strengthens with New Addition

In a recent statement, former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan expressed his belief that the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have significantly improved their bowling capabilities with the inclusion of Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana. Pathan shared his insights on his official X account, highlighting that KKR's bowling unit is now well-equipped to manage matches throughout all stages of a T20 innings.

Pathan noted, "With Matheesha Pathirana joining KKR, they have effectively addressed all phases of the 20 overs in their bowling strategy." He elaborated on the roles of various bowlers within the team, stating, "Harshit Rana will handle the Powerplay and Death overs; Vaibhav Arora will also contribute during the Powerplay; Cameron Green is set for the Middle overs and HTD; Pathirana will take on the Middle overs and Death; Varun Chakravarthy will be utilized in the Powerplay and Middle; while Sunil Narine will focus on the Middle overs."

View Irfan Pathan's full analysis here

During the IPL 2026 auction, Matheesha Pathirana was acquired by KKR for an impressive Rs 18 crore. The bidding for the Sri Lankan bowler began with Delhi Capitals, followed by Lucknow Super Giants entering the competition.

As the auction progressed, the bids escalated, reaching Rs 10.4 crore. When the price hit Rs 15.8 crore, KKR made a decisive move, initially bidding Rs 16 crore and then quickly increasing it to Rs 18 crore, ultimately securing Pathirana's services.