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 – its ineffective death bowling.
Talking about the auction strategy in an interview with MyKhel, Mehta explained that KKR management had conducted a detailed review of the previous season and discovered a recurring problem.
“I think one of the key gaps we identified last year was the lack of an experienced death bowler, and that cost us in several crucial situations,” she said.
KKR lost several tight games in the final overs in IPL 2025 where the inability to close out innings proved costly. Establishing that specific role became the franchise’s top priority heading into the mini-auction.
After analyzing the auction pool, KKR felt that the market had very few reliable death specialists with proven IPL credentials to offer.
Mehta revealed that alone pathirana and Mustafizur Rahman fit the profile KKR was looking for.
“When there is such a limited supply, only Pathirana and Mustafizur really fit that proven IPL profile with death bowling expertise,” she said.
With almost every franchise looking for a reliable finisher with the ball, KKR anticipated intense bidding. Their internal valuation hovered around ₹15-16 crore, but they were willing to go further to avoid missing out.
Why did KKR push up to ₹18 crore for Pathirana?
As the bidding escalated, KKR decided to go outside their initial comfort zone.
“Everyone wants a reliable death bowler, so we knew it would be around 15-16 crores. We pushed a little harder as he was a top priority, which stretched 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 deliver instant results.
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Why CSK let Pathirana go and why KKR still believes in him?
CSK released Pathirana after a modest 2025 season, partly to free up around ₹13 crore in stock space. However, KKR are backing the bowler’s previous work, especially his standout IPL 2023 campaign, where he took 19 wickets in 12 matches and played a key role in CSK’s title run.
Pathirana’s Lasith Malinga-style swinging action, extreme yorker accuracy and raw pace are skills that KKR considers rare commodities in today’s market.
KKR also believes Pathirana’s skills are tailor-made for Eden Gardens, where flat pitches and short boundaries regularly produce high-scoring matches.
In such venues, a bowler who can put yorkers under pressure becomes invaluable. KKR view Pathirana as a potential match-winner in tight finishes, capable of defending small totals or stopping last-over chases.
Also READ: IPL 2026 Auction – Here’s Why Cameron Green Gets Only INR 18 Crore Even Though KKR Bought Him For INR 25.2 Crore
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