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'Felt Inspired By Dhoni's Trust...,' Matheesha Pathirana Credits MS Dhoni For His Success In LPL

image-lldpzlc9Matheesha Pathirana during IPL 2023 (BCCI)

Sri Lankan pace sensation Matheesha Pathirana has credited his CSK stint under MS Dhoni for shaping up his performance in T20 cricket. The youngster recently turned up for Colombo Strikers in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) season.

Across all eight league fixtures for the franchise, the speedster ended up collecting 12 wickets, including a match-winning three-fer against B-Love Kandy earlier in the tournament.

Pathirana says MS Dhoni’s confidence inspired him

Matheesha Pathirana was roped in by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise ahead of the 2022 IPL season. While the youngster’s role in his maiden IPL season was confined to just two matches, he represented the franchise in 12 games the following year. The right-arm pacer claimed 19 wickets in the season, and served as one of the driving factors of CSK’s triumphant run.

In a recent interview, the Sri Lankan cricketer said that his IPL captain MS Dhoni played an important role in shaping up his T20 career. He said:

“When someone of that calibre puts their faith in you, it instill immense confidence. Not only me but all of us felt inspired by Dhoni's trust and support.”

Pathirana also recalled his earlier days at the CSK camp, and mentioned how he was trained by the team management. He added that he learned the importance of avoiding injuries from Dhoni, and has been prioritising fitness ever since.

The youngster made his T20I debut for Sri Lanka last year during the 2022 Asia Cup. He also earned his maiden ODI cap for Sri Lanka following a successful IPL season in India. Yet to set the international stage ablaze, the prodigal fast bowler will be looking to make an impact in the coming months for his national side.