The IPL 2026 auction saw one of its most debated moments when Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) splurged ₹18 crore on Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana, a player released by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) just months earlier. Now, KKR co-owner Jahnavi Mehta has revealed the clear thinking behind what many initially labelled a risky move.
Jahnavi Mehta explains KKR’s bold call for Matheesha Pathirana
According to Mehta, the decision was not emotional or reactive, but a calculated response to KKR’s biggest weakness during the IPL 2025 season – ineffective death bowling.
Speaking about the auction strategy in an interview with MyKhel, Mehta explained that KKR’s management conducted a detailed review of the previous season and found a recurring issue.
“I think one of the key gaps we identified last year was the lack of an experienced death bowler, and it cost us in several crucial situations,” she said.
KKR lost multiple tight games in the final overs in IPL 2025, where an inability to close out innings proved costly. Fixing that specific role became the franchise’s top priority heading into the mini-auction.
After analysing the auction pool, KKR felt the market offered very few reliable death-overs specialists with proven IPL credentials.
Mehta revealed that only Pathirana and Mustafizur Rahman fit the profile KKR were looking for.
“When there’s such limited supply, only Pathirana and Mustafizur truly fit that proven IPL profile with death bowling expertise,” she said.
With almost every franchise hunting for a reliable finisher with the ball, KKR anticipated intense bidding. Their internal valuation hovered around ₹15-16 crore, but they were prepared to stretch further to avoid missing out.
Why KKR pushed to ₹18 crore for Pathirana?
As the bidding escalated, KKR decided to go beyond their initial comfort zone.
“Everyone wants a reliable death bowler, so we knew it would be around 15-16 crores. We pushed a bit harder because he was a top priority, stretching to 18 crores, and we managed to secure him,” Mehta explained.
The franchise believes the premium price reflects scarcity rather than overvaluation, especially in a league where death-overs specialists can directly swing results.
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Why CSK let Pathirana go and why KKR still believe in him?
CSK released Pathirana after a modest 2025 season, partly to free up around ₹13 crore in purse space. However, KKR are backing the bowler’s earlier body of work, particularly his standout IPL 2023 campaign, where he picked up 19 wickets in 12 matches and played a key role in CSK’s title run.
Pathirana’s Lasith Malinga-style slingy action, extreme yorker accuracy and raw pace are skills KKR see as rare commodities in the current market.
KKR also believe Pathirana’s skill set is tailor-made for Eden Gardens, where flat pitches and short boundaries regularly produce high-scoring contests.
At such venues, a bowler who can nail yorkers under pressure becomes invaluable. KKR view Pathirana as a potential match-winner in tight finishes, capable of defending slim totals or stopping last-over chases.
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