Kugadas Mathulan, a 17-year-old pacer from Sri Lanka, has reportedly joined Chennai Super Kings (CSK) camp ahead of the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League. According to a report, CSK captain MS Dhoni was impressed with Mathulan, having seen a viral clip of him bowling during a Big Match between St. John's College and Jaffna Central College. In the viral video, Mathulan was seen uprooting the stumps of a batter with a toe-crushing yorker. Apparently, he is now bowling in the nets for CSK as Dhoni wanted to observe him from close quarters.
Mathulan has a similar action to former Sri Lanka pacer Lasith Malinga. CSK already have a Sri Lankan slinger Matheesha Pathirana in the their squad.
Pathirana played a crucial role in their IPL title charge last season, picking up 19 wickets in 12 matches.
Meanwhile, CSK's preparatory camp began on March 2, with the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Mukesh Choudhary and Prashant Solanki joining the camp at Chepauk.
CSK suffered an injury blow before the beginning of the season as New Zealand opener Devon Conway is expected to miss at least the first half of the tournament after undergoing thumb surgery. Conways sustained a blow on his finger during New Zealand's third T20I against Australia.
CSK will kick off their campaign against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first game of the IPL 2024, at Chepauk, on March 22.
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 Inputs)