Matheesha Pathirana suffered another injury setback during his much-awaited debut for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL on Saturday night against Gujarat Titans. Bought for Rs 18 crore in the IPL 2026 mini-auction, the Sri Lankan fast bowler walked off the field after bowling just eight in KKR’s 13th match of the season.
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Pathirana entered the match as an Impact substitute for Finn Allen, finally making his first appearance for the franchise after months of injury rehabilitation and a delayed clearance from Sri Lanka Cricket.
The setback comes at a crucial stage of the tournament KKR are fighting to stay alive in the playoffswhile concerns over Pathirana’s fitness continue to grow following the franchise’s massive investment in the Sri Lankan pacer.
Speaking about Pathirana’s fitness earlier this week, KKR assistant coach Shane Watson expressed confidence in the bowler’s readiness for selection.
“He’s continuing to make his case. He’s fit and ready to go,” Watson told reporters on May 12. “He remains fit and available for selection, but the current balance and combination of the side makes it difficult for him to break into the playing XI.” Pathirana gets injured on KKR debut (Photo: Screen grab from X)
Watson also emphasized the confidence of Pathirana’s presence completes the team. “Having someone of his quality in the group gives confidence to the whole team. It adds depth and gives us another strong option going into important games,” he added.
FRESH INJURY CONCERNS FOR PATHIRANA
Pathirana’s IPL season has already been delayed by left calf strain suffered during Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup campaign earlier this year. The injury kept him sidelined during the early stages of the tournament as he remained under the supervision of Sri Lanka Cricket’s medical staff before finally being cleared to travel to India.
However, the calf problem appeared to resurface during his debut outing. After six overs, Pathirana looked uncomfortable and required treatment from the on-field physiotherapist. He tried to continue but only managed two balls before he left unable to complete his spell.
Known for his slimy action and ability to execute yorkers under pressure, Pathirana will strengthen KKR’s death bowling, an area that has plagued the franchise all season. The Sri Lankan pacer was specially signed to provide control in the closing overs and add pace variation to the attack.
Pathirana has arrived at KKR with a strong IPL record from his time with Chennai Super Kings. In 33 IPL matches, he picked up 47 wickets at an average of 21.66, making him one of the leading death over specialists.
With KKR already struggling for consistency and facing possible relegation, the latest injury scare surrounding their Rs 18 crore signing now adds another layer of uncertainty to an already disappointing campaign.
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Published on:
16 May 2026 22:37 IST
