Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana entered the IPL 2026 mini auction with a modest base price of ₹2 crore but exited as one of the night’s biggest winners. The 22-year-old’s reputation as a proven death-overs specialist sparked an intense bidding war, with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Delhi Capitals (DC), and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) all vying aggressively for his signature. The contest eventually came down to KKR and LSG, before the Knight Riders sealed the deal at a staggering ₹18 crore.

LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka later revealed just how high Pathirana ranked on the franchise’s priority list, particularly for captain Rishabh Pant. Speaking to broadcaster JioStar, Goenka admitted that both the leadership group and the management were keen to bring the Sri Lankan pacer on board.

“Yes, our captain and vice-captain were both very keen on Matheesha Pathirana, as was I. He was a top priority for us, and we pushed our limits to ₹17.8 crore. That was genuinely the maximum we could afford at that stage,” Sanjiv Goenka said.

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Once KKR crossed the ₹18 crore mark, LSG were forced to step back, despite being within touching distance of landing their primary fast-bowling target. The Pant-led side, however, moved swiftly to adjust its plans. Later in the auction, LSG secured South African speedster Anrich Nortje at his base price, a move Goenka described as an unexpected but welcome bonus.

“When Anrich Nortje came up later, we were pleasantly surprised and delighted to get him at the base price. It turned out to be a very smart and balanced decision,” he added.

Goenka also outlined LSG’s broader auction strategy, confirming that Pathirana and Wanindu Hasaranga were at the top of their wishlist.

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“Our aim was clear — one high-quality international leg-spinner and one established overseas fast bowler. Hasaranga was our first-choice spinner, while Pathirana and Nortje were our two preferred fast-bowling options,” he explained.

Although LSG narrowly missed out on Pathirana, Goenka maintained that the franchise walked away satisfied, having secured two players from their core shortlist and executed their auction plans with clarity and composure.