Concerns continue to mount over Kolkata Knight Riders’ bowling in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, with Matheesha Pathirana still awaiting clearance from Sri Lanka Cricket due to pending fitness tests. The Sri Lankan pacer remains unavailable at a time when KKR are already dealing with numerous injuries in their cruise line.
Pathirana is among 15 centrally contracted Sri Lankan players yet to undergo mandatory fitness tests, with only 24 out of 45 having completed them so far. The delay, attributed to injuries and logistical issues, directly affected the IPL franchises, with Pathirana’s absence particularly damaging to KKR’s plans.
According to ESPNcricinfo, sources close to the player remain optimistic about his arrival in India by mid-April, although no official timetable has been confirmed. Temper, who was bought for Rs 18 crore in the IPL 2026 auction after being released by Chennai Super Kings, is currently ramping up the workload after recovering from a calf strain during the T20 World Cup.
WHEN WILL PATHIRANA COME FOR KKR?
While his release date is not confirmed, Pathirana is expected to undergo a fitness test within the next week. If it clears, he might link up with the KKR squad by mid-April.
The Sri Lankan Council has tightened its fitness protocolsmaking vetting mandatory for overseas leagues before issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs). Players must meet strict benchmarks, including sprint tests, agility drills and endurance metrics, before being deemed fit.
Pathirana has reportedly resumed bowling in the nets, which is a positive sign for KKR who are eagerly awaiting his return. However, until he clears the test, his participation in IPL 2026 remains uncertain.
In contrast, Wanindu Hasaranga’s situation seems more complicated. Signed by Lucknow Super Giants, the all-rounder is yet to request a NOC and is still recovering from a hamstring injury, so his return timeline is unclear.
KKR’S BOWLING WOES IN IPL 2026
KKR’s struggles with the ball were evident in their opening matches, largely due to the absence of key pacers. Injuries to Harshit Rana and Akash Deep along with Pathirana’s unavailability and Mustafizur Rahman’s withdrawal have limited the team to quality options.
Their makeshift attack, led by Blessing Muzarabani and Vaibhav Arora, lacked control and penetration. In their opening match against Mumbai Indians, KKR failed to defend a total of over 220, with the bowlers escaping runs at a high rate.
The problems continued against Sunrisers Hyderabad where they conceded 226 runs. Even their spinners struggled with Varun Chakravarthy being expensive in both the outings.
A losing game against Punjab Kings brought them their first points of the season but did little to solve the fundamental problems.
With their primary pace attack still unavailable, KKR’s campaign hinges heavily on how quickly they can get reinforcements like Pathirana back into the squad. Until then, their bowling woes remain the major concern of IPL 2026.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
07 Apr 2026 07:49 IST
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