CSK hires 17-year-old Sri Lankan ‘Slinger’ as net bowler ahead of IPL 2024: Report | Cricket News

Kugadas Mathulan, the 17-year-old pacer from Sri Lanka, has reportedly joined the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) training camp ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League season. CSK captain MS Dhoni was reportedly impressed with Mathuran after he saw a video of him bowling during a big match between St John’s College and Jaffna Central College that went viral. In the viral video, Mathuran uproots the stump of the batsman with a toe-crushing yorker. Apparently, he is now playing for CSK as Dhoni wants to see him up close.

The 17-year-old Jaffna slinga “Kugadas Mathulan” is currently in Chennai as Ms. Dhoni wants to see his bowling.he will be a net bowler @ChennaiIPL During IPL 2024. pic.twitter.com/3lHMzcHSJd

— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket) March 14, 2024

Mathuran’s move is similar to that of former Sri Lanka pacer Lasith Malinga. CSK already has a Sri Lankan bowler, Matheesha Pathirana, in their squad.

Pathirana played a crucial role in the IPL title race last season, taking 19 wickets in 12 games.

Meanwhile, CSK’s preliminary camp began on March 2 with the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Mukesh Choudhary and Prashant Solanki joining Chepauk in the camp.

CSK have been hit by injuries before the start of the season, with New Zealand opener Devin Conway expected to miss at least the first half of the game after undergoing thumb surgery. Convis suffered a finger injury during New Zealand’s third T20I against Australia.

CSK will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first match of IPL 2024 on March 22 in Chepauk.

CSK IPL squad: MS Dhoni (C), Moeen Ali, Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ajay Mandal, Mukesh Choudhary, Matheesha Pathirana, Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Mitchell Santner, Simarjeet Singh, Nishant Sindhu, Prashant Solanki, Maheesh Theekshana, Rachin Ravindra, Shardul Thakur, Daryl Mitchell, Sameer Rizvi, Mustafizur Rahman, Avanish Rao Aravelly.

(with ANI input)