Matheesha Pathirana, often referred to as “Baby Malinga,” is an exciting young fast bowler who has taken the cricketing world by storm with his unique slinging action and raw pace. Born on December 18, 2002, in Kandy, Sri Lanka, Pathirana rose to prominence through his performances in youth cricket and caught global attention during the 2020 and 2022 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cups. A right-arm fast bowler with a low-arm action similar to Lasith Malinga, Pathirana made headlines for clocking deliveries over 145 km/h at a young age. His unorthodox style and lethal yorkers make him a dangerous option in the death overs. He made his T20I debut for Sri Lanka in 2022 and was quickly seen as a future star of limited-overs cricket. Pathirana’s IPL career with the Chennai Super Kings significantly boosted his profile. Under the mentorship of MS Dhoni and sharing a bowling role similar to Malinga in his prime, he earned the reputation of being a reliable death-overs specialist. His ability to bowl pinpoint yorkers under pressure drew comparisons to elite finishers in T20 history. Wearing jersey number 99, Pathirana continues to develop as a key component of Sri Lanka’s T20 and ODI plans. His fitness, consistency, and control have improved, and he is now viewed as a long-term asset for the national team.