Inconsistent bowler? Kris Srikkanth calls KKR’s Pathirana decision a risky gamble
Ex-Indian captain Kris Srikkanth has expressed worries regarding Kolkata Knight Riders’ notable acquisition of Sri Lankan bowler Matheesha Pathirana, pointing out the dangers linked to acquiring the Sri Lankan pace bowler.
Ex-India selector Kris Srikkanth has cast doubt on Kolkata Knight Riders’ decision to acquire Matheesha Pathirana at the IPL 2026 auction. KKR garnered attention after they acquired Pathirana for Rs. 18 crore after resisting interest from Lucknow. This decision, coupled with the signing of Australian all-rounder Cameron Green for an unprecedented amount, has ignited considerable debate among cricket experts and past players.
Pathirana poses significant risk. He’s an inconsistent bowler. However, KKR made an intelligent decision by acquiring Mustafizur Rahman as well. They have Mustafizur as a replacement for Pathirana. With Bravo’s presence, it was anticipated that Pathirana would join KKR. “However, I was taken aback by his price and how many teams pursued him,” Srikkanth remarked.
Srikkanth questioned whether Pathirana was valued at Rs. 18 Crore, stating that his performance was subpar last season.
“LSG continued pursuing him upto18 crores.” Is he really such a prominent bowler to fetch 18 crores? His performance was quite average in the last IPL season. Numerous athletes face exclusion following a single poor season. A person like Fraser McGurk struggled in one season, and he isn’t even part of the scene. “Similar to Devon Conway,” mentioned Srikkanth.
Pathirana’s acquisition was KKR’s second-largest expenditure at the auction, after acquiring Cameron Green for 25.20 crore. Srikkanth stated that he anticipated the Australian all-rounder to fetch a high price and believes Green will bat in the top order.
Cameron Green’s performance was as anticipated. He was anticipated to receive 25 crores, and he rightfully merits it. The advantage for Green and KKR is that he will bat in his favored spot. “He will consistently rank in the top three and won’t fall to 4 or 5,” stated Srikkanth.
The ex-India selector stated that KKR had an excellent auction but raised concerns about their middle-order strength.
“They hosted an amazing auction.” Hats off to the management for selecting a great team. They arrived with a great strategy due to their financial resources. The sole area of worry is a few positions from No. 4 to 6 in the batting order. “Particularly the fifth position in batting after Rahane and Raghuvanshi raises some concern, “he mentioned.
KKR wrapped up the auction by acquiring 13 new players, almost fully utilizing their budget and retaining only 45 lakh sun spent.
