Cricket

Chennai Super Kings Retain Key Players for IPL 2025Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have announced the retention of five key players ahead of the upcoming IPL 2025 auction. The retained players include captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, legendary wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni, Sri Lankan speedster Matheesha Pathirana, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, and hard-hitting batsman Shivam Dube.The decision to retain these players reflects CSK's commitment to building a strong and competitive squad for the upcoming season. Gaikwad, who has emerged as one of the most promising young batsmen in the IPL, will continue to lead the team's batting charge. Dhoni, despite his advancing age, remains an integral part of the CSK setup, providing invaluable experience and leadership.Pathirana, who made a significant impact in his debut IPL season, will bolster CSK's bowling attack with his raw pace and wicket-taking ability. Jadeja, a versatile all-rounder, offers a balanced combination of batting, bowling, and fielding skills. Dube, known for his power-hitting, will add depth to the team's batting lineup.CSK's retention strategy aligns with the IPL regulations, which allow each franchise to retain up to six players, including a maximum of five capped cricketers. The team's decision to retain these five players suggests that they are confident in their abilities and believe they can contribute significantly to the team's success in the upcoming season.

Sri Lanka's ODI squad against India has been further depleted by injuries, with fast bowlers Matheesha Pathirana and Dilshan Madushanka ruled out. The duo joins Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Thushara on the sidelines, leaving the hosts with a depleted bowling attack.Pathirana, who impressed in the recent T20 World Cup, suffered a shoulder complaint while fielding in the third T20I against India. The injury is a recurrence of the issue that plagued him during last year's World Cup, prompting the team management to err on the side of caution.Madushanka, on the other hand, sustained a hamstring injury during training. He played only one match in the T20I series, but was expected to feature in the ODI squad.Sri Lanka have called up uncapped right-arm seamer Mohamed Shiraz as a replacement for Pathirana. The team is also expected to announce the inclusion of another seamer later on Thursday.The injuries have come as a major blow to Sri Lanka, who have lost their last 10 matches across formats against India. The hosts will be desperate to break their losing streak in the upcoming ODI series, but they will need to find a way to compensate for the absence of their key bowlers.

Matheesha Pathirana Becomes Most Expensive Player in Lanka Premier League HistoryNEW DELHI: Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana has etched his name in the history books of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) by becoming the most expensive player in the tournament's history. The 21-year-old was snapped up by the Colombo Strikers for a staggering $120,000, surpassing the previous record of $92,000 set by Dilshan Madushanka in the previous edition.Pathirana's unique slinging delivery style has captivated cricket enthusiasts, and his acquisition by the Strikers is a testament to his rising star. The young pacer has impressed with his pace and accuracy, and he is expected to play a key role in the Strikers' title aspirations.The second most expensive player on Tuesday was all-rounder Isuru Udana, who was acquired by the Galle Marvels for $100,000. Another all-rounder, Dasun Shanaka, was the third most expensive player, going to the Dambulla Thunders for $85,000.The most expensive foreign player was Afghanistan's right-arm medium pacer Karim Janat, who was signed by the Dambulla Thunders for $80,000. His compatriot, left-hand batsman Hazratullah Zazai, was also acquired by the Thunders for $50,000.South Africa's Rilee Rossouw, another left-hand batsman, was picked up by the Jaffna Kings for $60,000.The five-team LPL tournament will commence on July 1 and conclude on July 21. With a star-studded lineup featuring some of the world's best cricketers, the tournament promises to deliver thrilling and competitive action.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have suffered a major setback with the departure of their star pacer Matheesha Pathirana due to a hamstring injury. The Sri Lankan speedster has been a key performer for CSK this season, taking 13 wickets in six matches with an impressive economy rate of 7.68.Pathirana's absence is a significant blow to CSK's bowling attack, which has already been depleted by the injuries to Deepak Chahar and Maheesh Theekshana. Chahar, a pace-bowling all-rounder, is expected to miss the remainder of the IPL after sustaining a niggle during the match against Punjab Kings. Theekshana, a Sri Lankan spinner, is also set to miss a few more matches as he returns to Sri Lanka to complete his USA visa process ahead of the T20 World Cup in the Americas.Pathirana's last game for CSK was during their 78-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he bowled two overs and dismissed Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen. He missed the match against Punjab Kings in Chennai on May 1, with England pacer Richard Gleeson stepping in as his replacement.In a heartfelt message on social media, Pathirana expressed his gratitude to the CSK team and his teammates. "A hard goodbye with my only wish to see the 2024 IPL champion trophy in CSK's room soon! Grateful to the CSK team for all the blessings and love from Chennai," he wrote.CSK's bowling options have been severely weakened by the injuries to Pathirana, Chahar, and Theekshana. The team will need to find replacements quickly to maintain their competitiveness in the tournament.

Chennai Super Kings' Death-Bowling Woes Mount as Matheesha Pathirana Returns Home with Hamstring InjuryChennai Super Kings have been dealt a major blow with the news that their death-bowling specialist, Matheesha Pathirana, has returned to Sri Lanka to recover from a hamstring injury. The Sri Lankan pacer has been a key cog in CSK's bowling attack, and his absence will be a significant setback for the team.Pathirana missed CSK's home fixture against Punjab Kings in Chennai and was also ruled out of the reverse fixture in Dharamsala on Sunday. His absence further depletes CSK's bowling resources, which were already stretched thin due to the absence of Deepak Chahar, their powerplay specialist.Chahar, who has been struggling with a quadriceps injury, did not travel to Dharamsala and is awaiting the results of his scan reports in Chennai. His absence has left CSK without two of their most experienced and reliable bowlers.Pathirana, who made his IPL debut for CSK in 2024, has played only six games for the franchise, but he has made a significant impact with his ability to bowl at high speeds and generate swing. In those six games, he has taken 13 wickets with an impressive economy rate of 7.68.His absence will put additional pressure on CSK's other bowlers, including Mukesh Choudhary, Simarjeet Singh, and Dwayne Bravo. The team will need to find a way to compensate for the loss of Pathirana's death-bowling prowess if they want to maintain their position in the top four of the IPL standings.

MS Dhoni, the legendary Indian cricketer and former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain, has a reputation for nurturing young talent and transforming them into exceptional performers. Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana is the latest beneficiary of Dhoni's mentorship, experiencing a meteoric rise in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season.Pathirana, known for his slingy action reminiscent of Sri Lankan fast-bowling legend Lasith Malinga, has emerged as one of the most potent bowlers in the IPL. With 13 wickets in just six matches, he currently ranks fifth among the tournament's top wicket-takers. His impressive performance in the 2023 season, where he finished among the top 10 bowlers, further underscores his talent.Pathirana attributes his success to the unwavering confidence Dhoni has placed in him. Despite handing over the CSK captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the 2024 season, Dhoni continues to play a pivotal role in Pathirana's development."After my father, in my cricket life, mostly he (Dhoni) is playing my father's role because he is always taking care of me, giving me advice, what I have to do, similar to my father when I am at home," Pathirana said in a recent episode of 'Lions Upclose'.Dhoni's guidance extends beyond technical aspects of bowling. He emphasizes the importance of enjoying the game and maintaining physical fitness. "He's not telling a lot of things when I am on the field and off the field. He tells just small things, but it makes a lot of difference. So those little things, I take a lot of confidence (from)," Pathirana explained.Off the field, Dhoni remains a trusted confidant for Pathirana. "If I have to ask something from him, definitely I would go to him and ask. Every time he is telling me 'enjoy your game and take care of your body'," Pathirana said.The Sri Lankan pacer, who hails from Trinity College in Kandy, expressed his heartfelt desire to see Dhoni continue playing for CSK. "Mahi bhai, if you can play one more season, please play with us. If I'm here (laughs)," Pathirana said.Pathirana's rapid ascent under Dhoni's mentorship is a testament to the former Indian captain's ability to identify and nurture young talent. As CSK continues its quest for a fifth IPL title, Pathirana is poised to play a pivotal role, inspired by the unwavering support and guidance of his cricketing mentor.

Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) bowling woes have intensified as they navigate the crucial phase of IPL 2024. Head coach Stephen Fleming expressed concern over the team's depleted bowling stocks, which have disrupted their balance.Deepak Chahar, a key pacer, suffered an injury during Wednesday's match against Punjab Kings, casting doubt over his availability. Matheesha Pathirana and Tushar Deshpande are also sidelined with niggles, leaving CSK short-handed.Fleming acknowledged the severity of Chahar's injury, stating that initial assessments were not promising. The Sri Lankan duo of Pathirana and Maheesh Theekshana will depart for visa work ahead of the T20 World Cup, but CSK hopes to have them back for the return fixture against PBKS.Mustafizur Rahman's IPL stint has concluded, and he will join the Bangladesh squad for their home T20I series against Zimbabwe. Tushar Deshpande is battling flu, further depleting CSK's bowling options.Richard Gleeson, on his IPL debut, impressed with his new-ball swing, but CSK lacks a specialist overseas seamer beyond him and Pathirana. Former New Zealand fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan suggested that Mitchell Santner could be an option for CSK against PBKS.Indian bowling options include Mukesh Choudhary, Simarjeet Singh, and Prashant Solanki, but they lack recent competitive experience. CSK also reshuffled their batting line-up, with Daryl Mitchell dropping down the order to accommodate Sameer Rizvi as Impact Player. However, Rizvi struggled to make an impact.Fleming explained the tactical reasons behind the batting changes, but admitted that they failed to break up the opposition spinners. CSK's bowling woes and tactical challenges have hindered their progress in the tournament, and they face an uphill battle to regain their balance and momentum.

In a thrilling encounter at the Wankhede Stadium, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) emerged victorious over the Mumbai Indians (MI) by 20 runs, extinguishing Rohit Sharma's century-scoring effort.CSK's batting prowess was on full display as Shivam Dube and Ruturaj Gaikwad laid the foundation with impressive fifties. Dube remained unbeaten on 66, while Gaikwad contributed 69 runs off just 40 deliveries.The highlight of CSK's innings came in the final over, where MS Dhoni unleashed his vintage power-hitting. Dhoni smashed three consecutive sixes off Hardik Pandya, propelling CSK to a formidable total of 206 for four.In response, Rohit Sharma played a lone hand for MI, scoring an unbeaten 105 runs off 63 balls. However, his valiant effort lacked support from his teammates. Matheesha Pathirana emerged as the star performer for CSK, claiming four wickets for 28 runs.Pathirana's double-wicket over in the powerplay, dismissing Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav, proved crucial. Shardul Thakur and Tushar Deshpande also played key roles, bowling two tight overs that stifled MI's chase.Despite Rohit's century, MI fell short of the target, finishing on 186 for six. The victory marked CSK's first away win of the season and lifted them to third place in the standings. MI, on the other hand, suffered their fourth defeat in six matches, remaining in eighth position.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pulled off a stunning 20-run victory over Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium, defying expectations and successfully defending a modest total of 206.CSK's innings was propelled by a late surge from Shivam Dube, who smashed an unbeaten 64 off 38 deliveries. MS Dhoni then provided a final flourish with a 20-run cameo off the last four balls. However, it was the team's disciplined bowling that ultimately sealed the victory.Mumbai's chase began promisingly, with Rohit Sharma anchoring the innings with a century. However, Matheesha Pathirana's introduction turned the tide. The Sri Lankan pacer claimed two wickets in his first over, including the crucial dismissal of Ishan Kishan.As the required run rate climbed, Mumbai's batters struggled to keep up. Pathirana continued to impress, executing his plans to perfection and restricting the opposition to the larger boundaries. Despite Sharma's late flurry, Mumbai fell short by 20 runs.CSK's victory was a testament to their resilience and adaptability. Despite facing a formidable opponent on their home ground, they managed to control the game through disciplined bowling and smart fielding.