The start of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) has been quite challenging for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). In the matches played so far, their bowling performance has been lackluster; the team is struggling to contain runs. They have also failed to successfully defend high scores—a situation that has significantly increased the pressure on them in the tournament.
In the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), KKR allowed their opponents to post a massive total of 226 runs. The bowlers failed to stem the flow of runs at crucial moments. Prior to this, they were also unable to defend a score exceeding 220 against the Mumbai Indians (MI). These results have exposed serious deficiencies within their bowling unit.
A rain-affected match against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) earned KKR their first point of the season. However, this did not resolve their underlying issues. Injuries to key bowlers and a lack of experienced players have further compounded the team's difficulties.
Will Matheesha Pathirana play in the KKR vs LSG match of IPL 2026?
KKR is still awaiting the arrival of Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana to join the squad. He has not yet received fitness clearance from Sri Lanka Cricket. Without passing the necessary tests, he cannot obtain the No Objection Certificate (NOC) required to play in the IPL. Pathirana is currently recovering from a calf injury sustained during the T20 World Cup. He has resumed bowling in the nets, though not yet at full intensity. According to reports, he is expected to undergo his fitness test shortly. If he clears it, he could join the team by mid-April.
Due to this delay, his availability for tonight's match against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) remains uncertain. There has been no official confirmation from the team management regarding this matter so far.
KKR invested heavily in Pathirana during the auction. The franchise remains hopeful that he will be available for selection by the end of the season. His presence could significantly bolster the team's fast-bowling attack. At present, KKR's pace attack appears somewhat vulnerable; the bowling unit is currently relying on players such as Blessing Muzarabani and Vaibhav Arora. However, these players have been struggling to deliver consistent performances. Following the exclusion of Mustafizur Rahman from the squad, KKR is currently facing a dearth of experienced fast-bowling options.
Matheesha Pathirana IPL Career
Matheesha Pathirana has played 32 matches in his IPL career so far, taking 47 wickets at an average of 21.62. Famous as "Baby Malinga" due to his slingy bowling action, he spent four seasons with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), after which the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) acquired him for ₹18 crore in the 2026 auction.
Matheesha Pathirana IPL Career
| Season | Team | Matches | Wickets | Best Bowling | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | CSK | 12 | 13 | 3/36 | 10.14 |
| 2024 | CSK | 6 | 13 | 4/28 | 7.68 |
| 2023 | CSK | 12 | 19 | 3/15 | 8.01 |
| 2022 | CSK | 2 | 2 | 2/24 | 7.61 |
| Total | 32 | 47 | 4/28 | 8.68 |
Also Read: List of the Closest Win by Margin of Runs in IPL History
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