Matheesha Pathirana Sold to Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹18 Crore at IPL 2026 Auction
Matheesha Pathirana joins Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹18 crore in the IPL 2026 mini-auction. The Sri Lankan pace star strengthens KKR’s bowling attack ahead of the new season.
Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana has been acquired by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹18 crore in the IPL 2026 mini-auction, boosting KKR’s pace attack.
The IPL 2026 mini-auction saw the Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana not only as one of the biggest signings but also the most expensive with a staggering ₹18 crore knocked down to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). This dramatic purchase not only signals KKR's determination to buy match winners but also their whole-hearted commitment to the fast-bowlers' department.
Pathirana is famous for his unique bowler’s action, great control over yorkers, and calmly handling the death-overs; he is mainly a T20 bowler who can change the course of a match just in one spell. His skill to take the pressure makes him one of the most wanted bowlers in the auction, which results in the fierce cutting across the board of franchises.
For KKR, this investment is not only a bold move but also gives them the pace, variation and reliability that they require from their bowling unit ahead of IPL 2026. Pathira is likely to be at the forefront of the attack in the critical parts of the match, KKR will depend on his accuracy and wicket-taking capabilities to give them impact performances all throughout the season.
The auction keeps on producing huge-money transactions, but still, Pathirana's ₹18 crore signing is an eye-catching acquisition—a move that might significantly influence the Kolkata Knight Riders' IPL 2026 campaign.
