Matheesha Pathirana Ruled Out: T20 World Cup se 'Baby Malinga' ki bidaayi, Dilshan Madushanka ki entry!
Cricket fans ke liye ek badi khabar Sri Lanka ke camp se aa rahi hai. Unka sabse khatarnak weapon aur death overs ka king, Matheesha Pathirana, injury ki wajah se pure tournament se bahar ho gaya hai. T20 World Cup ke crucial stage par aakar island nation ko ye bahut bada jhatka laga hai. Lekin unhone backup bhi ready rakha hai aur Dilshan Madushanka ko squad mein shamil kar liya gaya hai.
The Inner Story: Pathirana ka Calf Strain aur Sri Lanka ki Tension
Maajra tab shuru hua jab Sri Lanka vs Australia match ke dauran Matheesha Pathirana apna chautha over daal rahe the. Pallekele ke maidan par apni chauthi delivery ke baad unhe left leg mein dard mehsoos hua aur wo wahi baith gaye. Scans ne confirm kiya hai ki ye calf strain hai aur ise theek hone mein kayi hafte lag sakte hain. Sri Lanka ke batting consultant Vikram Rathour ne confirm kiya hai ki unka safar is tournament mein khatam ho chuka hai.
Replacement ke taur par aaye Dilshan Madushanka ka record mixed raha hai. Ek taraf unhone 2023 ODI World Cup mein India ki dharti par 21 wickets lekar tabahi machayi thi, toh dusri taraf unka T20I form aur fitness hamesha sawalon ke ghere mein rahi hai. Madushanka ne apna aakhri match India ke khilaaf khela tha jahan unhe 3 overs mein 45 runs pade the. Ab sawal ye hai ki kya wo Pathirana ki jagah bhar payenge?
Analysis & Numbers: The Pace Vacuum
- Matheesha Pathirana is arguably the best death bowler for Sri Lanka with his Malinga-like slinging action and raw pace.
- Dilshan Madushanka has taken 15 wickets in 15 T20Is, but his economy rate is a concerning 9.75.
- The injury plague continues for Madushanka, who missed IPL 2024 and several bilateral series due to knee and hamstring issues before this recall.
- Sri Lanka has already qualified for the Super Eight, where they will face heavyweights like England and New Zealand.
- Special Mention: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan is also on the horizon in the Super Eight. While Pathirana is out, Madushanka's left-arm angle could still pose a threat to the ever-fragile Pakistan top order, which historically struggles against the ball moving away.
Speaking of Pakistan, unke fans shayad thoda sukoon mehsoos kar rahe honge ki unhe Pathirana ki 150 clicks wali yorkers ka samna nahi karna padega. Magar history gawah hai ki Pakistan ki batting collapse karne ke liye kisi elite bowler ki zaroorat nahi hoti, wo kaam wo khud hi kar lete hain!
The Guru Gyan Verdict:
Matheesha Pathirana ka jana Sri Lanka ke liye ek bada setback hai, especially jab Super Eight ke bade matches sar par hain. Dilshan Madushanka ke paas talent hai, lekin unka rhythm aur match fitness hamesha ek juwa (gamble) raha hai. Pathirana ki absence mein Sri Lanka ka death bowling department bilkul expose ho sakta hai. England aur New Zealand jaisi teams iska poora fayda uthayengi. Rahi baat Pakistan ki, toh unke khilaaf toh Sri Lanka ka net bowler bhi match-winner ban sakta hai kyunki wahan consistency dhoondna mrigtrishna (mirage) jaisa hai!
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