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Update: KKR pacer Matheesha Pathirana could join IPL 2026 on this date
Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana is expected to remain out of the ongoing IPL 2026 for a significant amount of time. According to the recently received updates, the sling pacer is all set to miss multiple matches for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). KKR suffered a defeat in their opening match of the season against the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium on March 29. The batters of the Knight camp did well to score 220 runs for 4 wickets on MI’s home ground, but their bowling department lacked quality to prevent Ryan Rickelton and Rohit Sharma from smashing the ball all around the park. MI won the match by 6 wickets in 19.1 overs. Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton toyed with the KKR bowling unit Without Matheesha Pathirana, the bowling work of KKR looked rough-hewn. Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani, who played his debut IPL match for the team, leaked 34 runs in 3 overs without taking any wickets. Before the season opener, KKR’s tactic got scratched as some of their key player ruled out of the campaign. Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman, Team India star Harshit Rana, and Akash Deep, these three pacers, have been ruled out for the entire season. The team management named Muzarabani as the replacement for Rahman, but they have no option but to wait for the final words from the Sri Lankan cricket board (SLC) about their pacer Matheesha Pathirana. Read More: MS Dhoni ruled out! RCB captain's massive call amid IPL 2026 SLC is yet to issue a NOC for Matheesha Pathirana SLC has made fitness tests compulsory for its key assets, and Pathirana is among the players who are highly rated by the board. According to the latest guidelines issued by SLC, as soon as the players prove their fitness, they will provide them with the required No Objection Certificate (NOC) to participate in the ongoing Indian Premier League. Pathirana is yet to receive the NOC. When will Matheesha Pathirana receive the NOC from SLC, and by when will he be available to play IPL 2026 KKR? As per the latest updates, ahead of the KKR vs the Sunrisers Hyderabad, today at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Pathirana is expected to remain unavailable until April 15 or 16 in IPL 2026. How many IPL 2026 matches Matheesha Pathirana will miss? If the reports are to be believed, then not only for today’s match, KKR will have to settle their playing combination without the pacer for the upcoming few fixtures as well. After today's match against SRH, Kolkata Knight Riders will face Punjab Kings on April 6,...
Matheesha Pathirana Issues Official Update On KKR Availability For IPL 2026
Matheesha Pathirana has been injured since T20 World Cup 2026. Credits - AFPKolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have played two matches so far in the IPL 2026, and in both of the games, they came really close to victory but then they lost them. The reason? KKR's lacklustre bowling attack in the absence of Matheesha Pathirana. Ahead of the IPL 2026, the three-time champions faced a series of setbacks in their seam department. Harshit Rana and Akash Deep are already ruled out of the tournament, Mustafizur Rahman has withdrawn, while Pathirana is still in Sri Lanka. KKR broke the bank for acquiring Pathirana for INR 18 crore. He was set to lead their brigade in the death overs, but he sustained a calf/hamstring injury during the 2026 T20 World Cup. Matheesha Pathirana gives good news for KKRAfter Kolkata's two losses in the first two games, some positive news has emerged from Sri Lanka. Matheesha Pathirana has attained great fitness and has started his bowling drills in the nets.He took to his Instagram to provide his KKR fans in India, where he captioned "Almost there". The 23-year-old was seen bowling with his usual run-up, but he was not operating at 100 per cent yet. Read More: Is Ajinkya Rahane Speaking The Truth About His Strike-Rate Since IPL 2023?It is understood that Pathirana will prove his fitness to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) soon, before he can fly to India to join the KKR IPL 2026 squad. Watch: Matheesha Pathirana starts bowling for IPL 2026SLC's fitness tests hurdle to seek NOCIn recent times, SLC has been pretty adamant about its players' fitness. The Sri Lanka board had conducted a series of fitness tests before granting No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to their IPL-contracted players. KKR's Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara, who is picked by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, are two pacers who are yet to receive permissions from their board to head to India.Although Pathirana is taking the steady road, RCB's Nuwan Thushara has dragged SLC to court after failing its fitness tests. The 31-year-old does not want to renew his central contract, which expired on March 31. Thus, he wants his NOC despite failing the fitness test. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for April 9. When will Matheesha Pathirana join KKR?It is earlier reported that Matheesha Pathirana has yet to receive the fitness clearance from the SLC Sports Science and Medicine Department. Thus, the unorthodox pacer would not be joining the KKR IPL 2026 squad at least until April 15 or 16....
Why is Matheesha Pathirana not playing for Kolkata Knight Riders ...
KKR pacer Matheesha Pathirana remains sidelined against SRH in IPL 2026 as Sri Lanka Cricket withholds his NOC due to fitness issues. While KKR expects a mid-April return, they must navigate SRH's ...
Matheesha Pathirana's NOC delayed by SLC, KKR's woes heighten in IPL 2026
Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana has been ruled out due to injury and is yet to bounce back into the game following the end of their T20 World Cup campaign. His return for KKR has been delayed, with an NOC awaited from the SLC.
