The current coach of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and former captain of the Indian cricket team, MS Dhoni, recently gave an interview in which he shares his thoughts on Matheesha Pathirana’s cricket career. Dhoni was impressed by the young cricketer’s performance but cautioned against rushing him into longer formats of the game.
Dhoni praises Pathirana’s performance in IPL 2023
Matheesha Pathirana made his IPL debut in 2023 for CSK, replacing the injured Josh Hazlewood. The 21-year-old pacer took 3 wickets for just 21 runs in his debut game against the Mumbai Indians (MI), impressing both his teammates and coach. Pathirana’s capacity to bowl at a good speed while producing swing and movement off the pitch really pleased Dhoni.
MS Dhoni advises against rushing Pathirana into Test cricket
Despite Pathirana’s impressive debut performance, Dhoni advised against rushing him into Test cricket at this stage of his career. He emphasized the importance of giving Pathirana time to develop his skills and gain more experience before considering him for the longer formats of the game. Dhoni also pointed out that Pathirana needs to work on his fitness to be able to handle the physical demands of Test cricket.
Dhoni highlights the importance of experience
MS Dhoni stressed the importance of experience in cricket and how it can shape a player’s career. He acknowledged that Pathirana has the potential to become a great cricketer but needs to gain more experience in T20 cricket before moving on to longer formats. Dhoni also emphasized the importance of building a strong foundation and developing the right set of skills before making the jump to Test cricket.
Conclusion
MS Dhoni’s comments on Matheesha Pathirana’s performance in IPL 2023 highlight the importance of patience and experience in cricket. Pathirana’s maiden performance impressed Dhoni, but he cautioned against pushing him into longer formats of the game and emphasized the need to give him time to hone his abilities and earn more T20 cricket experience.
