Chennai Super Kings have had a mixed season this time in the IPL so far. They are still hanging in the middle of the points table and have a good chance of making the playoffs, but things haven't been too good for them of late as they have lost three of their last four games.

They will aim for a turnaround on Sunday, when they take on Punjab Kings in Dharamsala, which will host its first IPL game of the season. But it would be a tall task amid the mountains given their poor record against Punjab.

Chennai will also need to rejig their bowling attack with Deepak Chahar injured and Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman returning home for national duty.

One bowler who can give the Chennai attack some bite is Sri Lankan slinger Matheesha Pathirana. The 21-year-old, who considers Mahendra Singh Dhoni as a father figure, has taken 13 wickets so far.

"After my father, in my cricket life, mostly he's (Dhoni) playing my father's role. He always takes care of me and gives me some advice. It makes a lot of difference," Pathirana said.

With Punjab's Shashank Singh a big threat with the bat, Pathirana will surely need some of those advices.