Former India cricketer Kris Srikkanth raised questions over Kolkata Knight Riders’ decision to spend a massive ₹18 crore on Matheesha Pathirana at the IPL 2026 mini-auction held on Tuesday, December 16. While acknowledging Pathirana’s potential, the 1983 World Cup winner labeled the Sri Lankan pacer an inconsistent option at such a premium price.

Srikkanth, however, praised KKR’s foresight in also securing Mustafizur Rahman, calling it a smart move to safeguard against Pathirana’s unpredictability. He felt the Bangladesh left-armer provided crucial balance and insurance for the three-time champions.

‘Huge risk’: Kris Srikkanth questions Pathirana’s price tag

Pathirana attracted intense bidding, with Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals locked in a battle before eventually losing out to KKR, who entered the auction with the largest purse of ₹64.3 crore. Srikkanth admitted he was taken back by the final price, especially given the 22-year-old’s struggles during IPL 2025.

“Pathirana is a huge risk. He’s a hit-and-miss bowler,” Srikkanth said in a video on his YouTube channel. “But KKR made a smart move by buying Mustafizur Rahman as well. They have a backup in case Pathirana doesn’t deliver. With Dwayne Bravo around, it was expected Pathirana would end up at KKR, but I was surprised by both the price and the number of teams that went after him.”

The former opener also questioned the logic behind such heavy spending when several big names went unsold after just one underwhelming season. “LSG kept pushing the bid to ₹18 crore. Is he really worth that? His performance last season was very ordinary. Players like Jake Fraser-McGurk and Devon Conway didn’t have one good season and suddenly they’re out of the picture,” he added.

Srikkanth, however, was not surprised by the big-money move for Cameron Green, who fetched ₹25.2 crore. He felt the Australian all-rounder was worth every rupee and would be utilized correctly by KKR.

“Green going for ₹25 crore was expected, and he deserves it,” Srikkanth said. “The best part for both Green and KKR is that he will bat in his preferred position. He’ll consistently play in the top three instead of being pushed down to No. 4 or 5.”

Despite his reservations, Srikkanth lauded KKR’s overall auction strategy, crediting the Ajinkya Rahane-led side for assembling a strong squad. However, he did flag a potential weakness in the middle order.

“They had a fantastic auction. Kudos to the management for putting together a good team,” he said. “They came in with a clear plan and had the advantage of money power. The only concern is the batting from No. 4 to No. 6. Especially the No. 5 position after Rahane and Raghuvanshi, that’s an area to watch.”