“He’s my cricket father”, Pathirana’s special bond with MS Dhoni

Few cricketers possess the ability to spot and nurture talent quite like MS Dhoni. Over the years, his keen eye for potential has helped shape some of the biggest names in Indian cricket, including Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. While both players credit Dhoni for backing them at crucial stages of their careers, they are not the only ones to have benefited from his mentorship.

One such cricketer is Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana, whose journey into professional cricket has been nothing short of remarkable. Coming from a family of musicians, Pathirana had limited exposure to the sport. However, his raw talent caught the attention of Dhoni, who saw something special in the young fast bowler.

Dhoni’s faith in Pathirana led to an IPL contract with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), where he was signed as a replacement for the injured Adam Milne in 2022. Since then, the young pacer has been refining his craft under Dhoni’s watchful guidance, an experience that has shaped his career significantly.

In a recent CSK video, Pathirana’s parents expressed deep gratitude toward Dhoni for his role in their son’s development. His mother described Dhoni as “a real God,” while his father revealed how Matheesha sees the legendary captain as a second father.

“In Sri Lanka, you are my father, in India, it is MS Dhoni,” said his father.

Pathirana himself echoed this sentiment, stating, “I treat MS Dhoni as my father figure because of what he has done for me in cricket. The support he has given me is similar to what my father provided at home.”

The impact of Dhoni’s mentorship is evident in Pathirana’s performances. The pacer had a breakout IPL season in 2023, taking 19 wickets in 12 matches. His stellar form continued in 2024, where he picked up 13 wickets in just six games. Overall, in his 22-match IPL career so far, he has taken 39 wickets at an economy rate of 7.88, with a best bowling figure of 4/28.

Under Dhoni’s leadership, Pathirana has transformed from a promising youngster into a formidable fast bowler, proving once again that Dhoni’s ability to nurture talent remains unparalleled in the cricketing world.