IPL 2023: Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana to join CSK on April 10

Chennai Super Kings’ Sri Lankan duo of Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana will join the franchise on April 10 - ahead of their next clash against Rajasthan Royals at home on April 12, the franchise CEO Kasi Viswanathan has confirmed. The duo was part of the six-match white-ball series against hosts New Zealand, which ended on April 8 with the latter winning the three-match T20I rubber 2-1. 

Pathirana, the right-arm medium pacer, did not feature in any of the fixtures, while Theekshana played all three 20-over internationals, returning with figures of 1/22, 0/18 and 1/22. The spinner was particularly impressive in a nerve-sapping first T20I in Auckland, where he kept New Zealand down to just eight runs in Sri Lanka's Super Over victory.

Theekshana made his debut for CSK last year and immediately proved his worth as a dependable Powerplay bowler, tallying 12 wickets in the season at an economy of 7.46, including a four-wicket haul. Pathirana, meanwhile, debuted for the team last year and picked two wickets in as many games. 

Further, Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka - signed as ruled-out Kane Williamson's replacement at Gujarat Titans - and RCB's Wanindu Hasaranga will also join their teams on the same day (April 10). 

Shanaka, who went unsold in the December auction, has been a ballistic all-rounder, having scored 3724 runs at a strike rate of 141.92 in 183 T20s. With the ball, his medium pace has earned him 59 scalps at an economy of 8.81. He has not played the IPL before.

As for Hasaranga, the leg-spinning all-rounder who made his IPL debut in 2021, he will bolster RCB's bowling line-up. Hasaranga was the second-leading wicket-taker in last year's tournament, with 26 strikes in 16 games at a brilliant economy of 7.54, including a four-for and five-for each. Meanwhile, the only other Sri Lankan player in the IPL this season, Bhanuka Rajapaksa is representing the Punjab Kings.