Chennai Super Kings call Sri Lanka’s new ‘Malinga’ to take part in training camp ahead of IPL 2021

Matheesha Pathirana

Maheesh Theekshana

https://www.timesnownews.com: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have kicked-off their preparations for the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The likes of captain MS Dhoni, Ambati Rayudu, and Ruturaj Gaikwad among others are already in Chennai and have begun their preparations of the new season that gets underway from April 10 this year.

CSK had a horrific campaign in IPL 2020 in UAE last year where they failed to make it to the playoffs for the first time in their history and finished a lowly seventh in the points table. This year, CSK will be hoping to bounce back having bolstered their squad in the IPL 2021 player auction which was conducted in February this year.

CSK roped in the likes of Moeen Ali, Krishnappa Gowtham, and Cheteshwar Pujara among others to strengthen their squad and will be looking to get off to a good start in the tournament this year. Apart from the quality additions at the auction, CSK have also called up two uncapped Sri Lankan pacers for their ongoing training camp in Chennai.

Young Sri Lankan bowlers Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana have been called up by CSK, as per a report in Sri Lankan news outlet NewsWire. The two pacers have been added as reserve players and will not be part of the main squad. They will be helping the CSK batsmen prepare for the new season by bowling to them in the nets.

Pathirana, who has often been touted as the new ‘Malinga’ from Sri Lanka, had created waves with the pace and action at the U-19 World Cup last year. Pathirana’s sling action resembles that of Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga and his action is almost a reflection of the Sri Lanka great.