The Chennai Super Kings have made the big decision to let go of Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana ahead of the IPL 2026 season. The move came just before the IPL retention window closed at 3 pm on Saturday. CSK had been mulling over Pathirana's future for some time now, even though they had bought him in 2023 and retained him for INR 13 crore before the IPL 2025 mega auction. Pathirana's Struggles and CSK's Concerns He made a brilliant beginning in IPL 2023 for CSK when they won the title. His sling action, high pace, and swing were a big positives, and he finished with 19 wickets from 12 matches. But even then, MS Dhoni had warned that Sri Lanka Cricket needed to take his care because of the way he bowled and the workload on him. Over time, Dhoni's fear has come true as Pathirana faced repeated injuries. His IPL 2024 season was cut short because of a hamstring injury, while he also had to return early from the SA20 while playing for Joburg Super Kings. During IPL 2025, he could not find his rhythm and took just 13 wickets in 12 matches while giving away plenty of runs. CSK coach Stephen Fleming had said during the season that the team was worried about his drop in form. He also felt that SLC might have changed his release point, which caused him trouble with control. Also Read | What is the Extra Padding Seen on Rishabh Pant’s Shoe During the IND vs SA 1st Test? CSK's Auction Plan and Other Big Changes They have now released Pathirana, but CSK could try to buy him again in the auction, which will be held on December 16 in Abu Dhabi. Pathirana has played for only CSK in IPL so far, taking 47 wickets in 32 matches across three seasons. CSK are likely to go into the auction with a big purse as they are also releasing several other players. The New Zealand duo of Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra have been released. The franchise has also made a big trade as they have sent Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to Rajasthan Royals while getting Sanju Samson in return. These moves by CSK indicate that they want to usher in changes for the 2026 edition of IPL. The team management intends to get into rebuilding the squad with new players and more depth. The release of Pathirana starts the big shift for the Chennai franchise going into a big auction and new season.