Pathirana played only six games for CSK in IPL 2024, taking 13 wickets with an economy of 7.68. He had missed the IPL 2024 season-opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore with a hamstring injury he had sustained while playing for Sri Lanka against Bangladesh in Sylhet in March. He is the second Sri Lanka fast bowler on the sidelines with left-armer Dilshan Madushanka, who was due to make his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians, ruled out of the entire IPL season.