Sri Lanka fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana will also be seen in a new franchise in the Indian Premier League for the first time in his career. Pathirana has become the fifth most expensive overseas player ever in the history of the IPL. The Lanka ‘slinga’ was released by MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings ahead of the IPL 2026 mini auction. Delhi Capitals were desperate to bring him home but it was Kolkata Knight Riders with their massive auction ‘war chest’ who finally came out on top. After making Cameron Green the most expensive overseas cricketer KKR bought Pathirana for Rs 18 crore in the IPL 2026 player auction in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. It will be a Rs 5 crore rise in salary for Pathirana who was getting Rs 13 crore with CSK. The 22-year-old was surprisingly released by CSK after claiming only 13 wickets in 12 matches as the Chennai side finished in last place in the IPL 2025 season. If Green was the replacement of Andre Russell Pathirana is expected to step into the role vacated by Mitchell Starc a couple of seasons back. But Lucknow Super Giants also desperately wanted to bring Pathirana home as skipper Rishabh Pant was keen to pick him LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka revealed on Tuesday. “Yes our captain and vice-captain were both very keen on Matheesha Pathirana as was I. We were also very interested in Anrich Nortje. Pathirana was our priority and we went up to Rs 17.8 crore which was our absolute limit — we didn’t have the purse to go beyond that” Goenka said speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Match Centre Live Auction 2026’. Goenka instead settled on South African pacer Anrich Nortje who made a return to international cricket in the T20I series against India. “When Anrich Nortje came up later we were pleasantly surprised and delighted to secure him at the base price. So overall it was a very considered concerted and well-thought-out decision” Goenka said. Lucknow Super Giants expressed satisfaction with their auction strategy having secured key international targets aligned with their team requirements. Owner Sanjiv Goenka highlighted the successful acquisition of Wanindu Hasaranga and Anrich Nortje as part of a well-planned and disciplined bidding approach at the IPL 2026 mini-auction. “We are very close to our primary targets. Our key objectives were to secure one quality international leg-spinner and one reputed international fast bowler. Wanindu Hasaranga was our first-choice leg-spinner and for the fast-bowling option it was between Matheesha Pathirana and Anrich Nortje. We are delighted to have acquired two players who were part of our shortlisted three so we are extremely happy with how the auction has unfolded” Goenka said.