Delhi: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) young fast bowler Mathisha Pathirana has given an emotional tribute for former captain MS Dhoni. He has called Dhoni his ‘cricketing father’ i.e. the father of cricket. Pathirana believes that Dhoni has not only guided him on the field, but has also taken care of him like a family.
After the injury to Adam Milne in 2022, Pathirana got a chance to join CSK as a replacement. Since then, he has come very close to Dhoni. Talking to the official social media channel of CSK, Pathirana told that Dhoni always guided him with respect, patience and wise.
‘Dhoni is like a father for me’
Pathirana said, “Dhoni is like a father for me, because the way he has supported and guided me, he is like my own father. So I consider him my cricketing father.”
Dhoni loves him with love, which is called a younger brother in Sri Lanka. Pathirana finds it very special that a cricket legend calls him so much love.
He laughed and said, “The gardener is a younger brother here. And when the legends like Dhoni call me a gardener, I feel very good.”
This relationship with Dhoni is not limited to Pathirana. His parents also pay great respect to Dhoni. Pathirana’s mother Anura Pathirana said, “There are no words for Dhoni, she is like God for us. Just as Mathisha respects her father, he does Dhoni.”
Dhoni had promised Pathirana’s parents that he would take full care of his son in India. And he also fulfilled that promise.
In the IPL 2024, Pathirana took 14 wickets while performing brilliantly. In IPL 2025 too, he has taken 4 wickets in two matches so far and remains an important bowler of the team. On April 4, when the CSK will compete with Delhi Capitals, Patairana is expected to have another strong performance.
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(Tagstotranslate) Chennai Super Kings (T) CSK (T) IPL 2025 (T) Matheesha Pathirana (T) MS Dhoni