Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana is making his first appearance in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday, March 28. Pathirana was absent from CSK's opening match against Mumbai Indians due to injury concerns but has now been cleared to play. CSK head coach Stephen Fleming had earlier mentioned that Pathirana was recovering from an injury, and his return is expected to add more firepower to the team’s pace attack.
In the current match, CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and elected to bowl first. Pathirana replaces Nathan Ellis in the playing XI, while RCB has introduced Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who returns to the franchise after 15 years, replacing Rasikh Dar Salam. Bhuvneshwar was bought for Rs 10.75 crore at the mega auction and is expected to bolster RCB’s pace attack alongside Josh Hazlewood and Yash Dayal.
Both teams started their campaigns with wins—RCB secured a convincing seven-wicket victory against Kolkata Knight Riders in their season opener, while CSK defeated Mumbai Indians by four wickets. The contest between these two sides is set to be a thrilling encounter, especially considering their past rivalry. In the previous season, RCB had managed to edge past CSK in a closely fought match, and they will be eager to repeat the feat.
This game is crucial not only for individual players but also for the teams’ standings in the tournament. Matheesha Pathirana, known for his slingy action and ability to bowl lethal yorkers at high speeds, will be a key asset for CSK, especially in the death overs. On the other hand, RCB’s batting lineup, featuring Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Liam Livingstone, will look to challenge the CSK bowlers and post a competitive total.
At the moment, RCB has scored 83 runs for the loss of two wickets, with Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar at the crease. The match is shaping up to be an exciting contest as both teams battle for supremacy in IPL 2025.
