'A hard goodbye' - Matheesha Pathirana bids emotional farewell to Chennai Super Kings’ camp

Star Chennai Super Kings’ pacer Matheesha Pathirana bid an emotional farewell to the five-time champions’ camp and the IPL (Indian Premier League) 2024 after an injury cut his season short. The star pacer will be returning to Sri Lanka to recover from the injury and be fit in time for the T20 World Cup 2024. 

With 13 wickets in six matches, Pathirana has been one of the best performers for CSK in the IPL 2024, before the injury cut his season short. As he left India, Pathirana took to Instagram and posted a heartfelt message for all his fans. 

The 21-year-old opined that it has been one of the hardest goodbyes for him, and he wishes to see Chennai Super Kings lift the title. He also expressed how grateful he was to the franchise for everything that they gave to him. 

"A hard goodbye with my only wish to see the 2024 IPL champion trophy in CSK’s room soon! Grateful to the CSK team for all the blessings and love from Chennai. - #matheeshapathirana #ipl2024 #csk #msdhoni #pathirana"

He is always taking care of me: Pathirana on MS Dhoni

Recently, Matheesha Pathirana also talked about former CSK skipper MS Dhoni. The youngster heaped praise on the veteran, opining that MSD has been playing the role of his father in his cricket life. He revealed that Dhoni keeps telling him small details about his game, which in turn helps him improve. 

"After my father, in my cricket life, mostly he (Dhoni) is playing my father's role because he is always taking care of me, giving me advice, what I have to do, similar to my father when I am at home. He tells just small things, but it makes a lot of difference. So those little things, I take a lot of confidence,” Pathirana said on the show ‘Lions Upclose’ 

"Off the field, we don't talk that much; but if I have to ask something from him, definitely I would go to him and ask,” he added.