“Could Be A Huge Mistake”: KKR Warned After ₹18 Crore Pathirana Gamble
Former cricketer Shreevats Goswami questions KKR’s ₹18 crore spend on Matheesha Pathirana after his poor IPL season.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) faced criticism from Veteran Cricketer Shreevats Goswami following their INR 18 crore acquisition of Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana in the IPL 2026 mini-auction on December 16, 2025. Goswami flagged the move as potentially a "huge mistake", pointing to Pathirana's underwhelming 2025 season with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), where he took limited wickets at a high economy rate, yet KKR paid INR 5 crore more than his previous retention value without CSK showing interest.
Pathirana, known for his slingy action and death-over prowess, had been a key asset for CSK in prior years but struggled with form and fitness in the last campaign, prompting the franchise to release him ahead of the auction. The bidding saw KKR aggressively pursue the 22-year-old, outbidding competitors to secure his services despite the perceived dip in performance.
Goswami questioned the valuation, suggesting the premium could burden KKR's squad balance, especially in a mini-auction with limited slots and purse constraints. Analysts note that while Pathirana's unique skill set offers high upside in T20 cricket, the risk lies in recurring injury concerns and inconsistent returns on such a hefty investment.
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KKR's strategy appears focused on bolstering their pace attack with international flair, complementing existing resources. However, the deal has sparked debate over paying for potential versus proven recent output in the high-stakes auction environment.As the session continued with franchises filling remaining positions, Pathirana's signing highlighted the volatility of valuing young overseas talents amid fierce competition.The transaction underscores the IPL's evolving dynamics, where franchises weigh long-term promise against immediate risks in pursuit of title contention.
