There aren’t many cricketers around who can spot fresh talent and help them grow like MS Dhoni. Just think about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma—they both had their careers bloom under Dhoni’s guidance. They’ve even said that they might not have reached the heights they have if Dhoni hadn’t been there to support them. When Kohli was struggling early on, Dhoni stood by him, and he was the one who suggested Rohit should open the innings to really bring out his skills.
But the story doesn’t stop with Kohli and Rohit. Quite a few players who’ve learned from Dhoni have also found a lot of success, both in international cricket and in various leagues. One such player is Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana. His journey is pretty unique. Pathirana grew up in a family full of musicians and didn’t really have much exposure to cricket in his early years. Yet, Dhoni spotted his potential right away and was impressed by what he saw.
Not long after that, Pathirana got an IPL contract with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). They picked him as an uncapped overseas player for Rs 20 lakh, actually as a replacement for the injured Adam Milne. Since joining CSK, he has been sharpening his skills under Dhoni’s watchful eye and has played for Sri Lanka 31 times so far.
Recently, a video released by CSK featured Pathirana’s parents talking about the enormous impact Dhoni has had on their son’s life. Matheesha sees Dhoni in a light that’s pretty similar to how he views his own dad. His mom shared, “There are no words for MS Dhoni. He is like a real God. Matheesha respects him just like he respects his father.” His dad added, “In Sri Lanka, you are my father, in India it is MS Dhoni.” Then Matheesha himself chimed in, saying, “I treat MS Dhoni as my father figure because of all he’s done for me in cricket. The support he has given me is very much like what my dad has given me at home.”
Looking at Matheesha’s progress, 2023 was a breakthrough year for him in the IPL, where he played 12 matches and took 19 wickets. He kept up that strong performance into 2024, grabbing 13 wickets in just six games. Overall, Pathirana has featured in 22 matches for CSK, racking up 39 wickets and maintaining an economy rate of 7.88, with his best bowling figures standing at 4 for 28.
If we take a look at the current Chennai Super Kings squad, it includes notable players like Ruturaj Gaikwad as captain, MS Dhoni as wicketkeeper, and talented names like Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Matheesha Pathirana among others. Whether it’s their support or sheer talent, the camaraderie in this team is palpable, and it’s exciting to see how they work together on the field.
