‘MS Dhoni is like my father’- Matheesha Pathirana expresses gratitude to ex CSK captain

During the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, Matheesha Pathirana has made significant progress since joining the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as a mid-season replacement for the injured Adam Milne. Then, he was only 19 years old. After three years, he has established himself as CSK’s most dependable pacer in the final overs thanks to his ability to regularly bowl yorkers that crush toes.

For an incredible INR 13 crore, the Men in Yellow were able to keep the Sri Lankan seamer before the IPL 2025 mega-auction. During the first two games of the 18th edition of the IPL, he has taken two wickets apiece.

Pathirana’s mother thanked the great MS Dhoni, who has been instrumental in the right-arm pacer’s growth as a cricket player, in a documentary that CSK shared on its official social media account on Friday, April 4.

“Dhoni is not mentioned. Godlike, really. “Matheesha, his respect for [his] father, such as the way he treats Dhoni with dignity,” Pathirana’s mother stated in the video.

 Matheesha Pathirana discussed Dhoni’s role as a mentor and the advice he received from him.

“Cricketing father” is how the 22-year-old referred to the former India captain.

“Dhoni is like my father, because of the support and the mentorship and the guidance he is giving me when I’m in CSK,” said Pathirana. “My father did something pretty similar in my house. For this reason, I think of Dhoni as my father in cricket.

Pathirana remembered his initial encounter with Dhoni subsequent to his arrival in the Super Kings lineup. “Hello, Mali,” the wicketkeeper-batter had said. How are you? Because Pathirana based his bowling motion on Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga, he was known as “Baby Malinga” in cricket. This is where the term “Mali” originates.

Mahi and Mathee!
Making us feel the bond!

Watch #TheMakingOf Matheesha Pathirana Out now
– https://t.co/3AmfTzCSmx

#WhistlePodu #Yellove pic.twitter.com/E0Sj4JjGGu

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 4, 2025

“It [Mali] is very familiar to me, because when we are in Sri Lanka, Mali means the younger brother,” Pathirana stated. “I’m called ‘Mali’ by that sort of mythology. This is amazing. “That’s excellent,” said Pathirana.

Chennai defeated the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals in back-to-back IPL 2025 matches after winning their opening game against the Mumbai Indians. On Saturday, April 5, the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led team will play again when they play the Delhi Capitals in Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium.