Chennai Super Kings have some fine spinners, their home ground, the MA Chidambaram Stadium, offers good help to the slower bowlers, and yet it is a young pacer who is making the headlines.
But Matheesha Pathirana is no ordinary fast bowler. The 20-year-old from Kandy, Sri Lanka, has a Lasith Malinga-like slinging action and has a bagful of variations.
When Chennai face Delhi Capitals at the Chepauk on Wednesday, David Warner’s resurgent team will perhaps have to worry more about Pathirana than a Ravindra Jadeja or a Maheesh Theekshana.
Ben Stokes. File photo
Capitals have been on an upswing, winning four of their last five games. They are still at the bottom of the table but a victory against Chennai can make them a part of the mid-table jam and keep their playoff hopes alive. Chennai, on 13 points, will look for ascendancy.
Capitals’ bowling has been impressive, with spinners Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav leading the show.
For Chennai, Ben Stokes is available for selection, but where will he play? They can’t drop Devon Conway, Moeen Ali and Theekshana, who are crucial for the team balance. Pathirana? Well, his yorkers and slower bouncers have made him indispensable for Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Today’s match
■ Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals, 7.30pm, Chennai, live on Star Sports & Jio Cinema