Kolkata Knight Riders have signed Lovepreet Sisodia as a replacement for the injured Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana for the remainder of the IPL 2026 season. The three-time champions took this step ahead of their crucial 'do-or-die' league match against Delhi Capitals at Eden Gardens. Sisodia, a wicketkeeper-batsman from Karnataka, has joined the squad for ₹30 lakh, marking a return to the franchise with which he has previously been associated. The 25-year-old Sisodia has also played for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in previous IPL seasons.
Matheesha Pathirana Injury Update
During the IPL auction, KKR placed a significant bet on Pathirana, acquiring the Sri Lankan pacer for ₹18 crore. However, his season proved to be a disappointment due to persistent fitness issues. In his debut match for KKR against Gujarat Titans on May 16, the pacer suffered a hamstring injury after bowling just 1.2 overs. He had taken the field as an 'Impact Player' but was unable to continue bowling.
Subsequently, Pathirana missed KKR's victory against Mumbai Indians and has now been officially ruled out of the team's final league-stage match as well. Doubts regarding his participation in the 2026 IPL had already been looming due to his recurring injury troubles. During the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup, Pathirana had to leave the field midway while bowling against Australia and was subsequently unable to play in the remainder of the tournament. Sri Lanka Cricket had also made it a mandatory condition for Pathirana to obtain fitness clearance before issuing a 'No Objection Certificate' (NOC) for him to play in the IPL.
KKR IPL 2026 Performance
KKR's position in the race for the playoffs is quite precarious. The defending champions currently have 13 points from 13 matches, with a Net Run Rate of 0.011. Following their victory over the Lucknow Super Giants, the Punjab Kings have significantly improved their Net Run Rate, thereby presenting a major challenge for KKR ahead of their upcoming clash against Delhi.
For KKR, the equation is now straightforward yet extremely difficult: to keep their playoff hopes alive, they must defeat the Delhi Capitals by a substantial margin—one large enough to surpass Punjab's Net Run Rate. However, their fate (as well as that of PBKS) also hinges on the outcome of the ongoing match between the Mumbai Indians and the Rajasthan Royals. If RR emerges victorious, both KKR and PBKS will be eliminated from the tournament.
Luvnith Sisodia Cricket Career
Profile Overview
- Full Name: Luvnith Sujith Sisodia
- Born: January 15, 2000 (Age: 26), Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Playing Role: Wicketkeeper-Batter
- Batting Style: Left-handed
Lovneet Sisodia first grabbed national headlines in 2021 during a corporate 50-over match, when he scored a magnificent 312 runs off just 129 balls; this innings included 26 fours and 26 sixes. He made his senior Twenty20 debut for Karnataka against Mizoram during the 2018-19 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Since then, he has consistently delivered stellar performances in the state's Maharaja Trophy T20 league, playing numerous matches for franchises such as the Hubli Tigers and Gulbarga Mystics.
Maharaja Trophy T20
| Tournament Season | Team | Matches | Runs | Average | Significant Feats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maharaja T20 2025 | Gulbarga Mystics | 11 | 240 | 24.00 | 21 fours, 18 sixes |
| Maharaja T20 2024 | Gulbarga Mystics | 11 | 314 | 31.40 | 2 half-centuries |
| Maharaja T20 2023 | Hubli Tigers | 10 | 308 | 30.80 | 1 century (105 off 62 balls) |
| Maharaja T20 2022 | Hubli Tigers | 11 | 389 | 38.90 | 3 half-centuries |
Luvnith Sisodia IPL Career
- Royal Challengers Bangalore (2022): Initially, RCB scouted and acquired him for ₹20 lakh, but he did not get the opportunity to play in any matches.
- Kolkata Knight Riders (2025): In the 2025 Mega Auction, KKR purchased him for ₹30 lakh.
- IPL 2026: On May 24, 2026, KKR officially re-signed Sisodia to their squad for ₹30 lakh. Joining the team directly as a replacement for the injured Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana ahead of their final round-robin league match against the Delhi Capitals, Sisodia will bolster the squad as a key option for both wicketkeeping and batting.
Also Read: Why is Jasprit Bumrah not playing in today match against RR in IPL 2026?
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