KKR Sign Luvnith Sisodia As Matheesha Pathirana Replacement For IPL 2026

Kolkata Knight Riders have brought in Karnataka wicketkeeper-batter Luvnith Sisodia as Matheesha Pathirana’s replacement.

Kolkata Knight Riders’ high-profile signing of Sri Lankan speedster Matheesha Pathirana has ended on a disappointing note after the pacer was officially ruled out of the remainder of IPL 2026 with a hamstring injury. The injury setback came during KKR’s recent victory against Gujarat Titans, where Pathirana looked in visible pain while bowling.

KKR had invested a massive INR 18 crore in the Sri Lankan pacer during the IPL auction, making him one of the franchise’s biggest buys ahead of the season. However, injuries prevented the fast bowler from making an immediate impact.

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Pathirana’s arrival in IPL 2026 had already been delayed after he suffered a left calf injury during Sri Lanka’s Super Eight campaign at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Following weeks of rehabilitation and medical assessments, he was finally cleared to join the KKR squad in mid-April.

Despite returning to action, the pacer’s comeback lasted only briefly. Pathirana eventually featured in KKR’s playing XII against Gujarat Titans, but his outing ended prematurely after he bowled just 1.2 overs before walking off the field with discomfort in his left hamstring.

Luvnith Sisodia Drafted Into KKR Squad

To address the growing injury concerns within the squad, Kolkata Knight Riders have signed Karnataka cricketer Luvnith Sisodia as Pathirana’s replacement for the remainder of the tournament.

Sisodia is a left-handed wicketkeeper-batter who has represented Karnataka in domestic cricket and has featured in 13 T20 matches so far. Although he is yet to make his IPL debut, the youngster has previously been associated with both Royal Challengers Bengaluru and KKR setups.

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The 25-year-old was picked by KKR during the 2025 mega auction and now gets another opportunity to be a part of the franchise during a crucial stage of the tournament.

His arrival also strengthens KKR’s wicketkeeping department after Angkrish Raghuvanshi was ruled out due to a concussion and a finger fracture. Sisodia is regarded as an aggressive batter capable of providing quick starts at the top of the order.