KKR Mentor Shares Update On Matheesha Pathirana Return In IPL 2026

Kolkata Knight Riders mentor Dwayne Bravo revealed that Matheesha Pathirana is close to returning as KKR continue their fight to stay alive in the IPL 2026 playoff race.

Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders made headlines during the IPL 2026 auction after spending a massive ₹18 crore to acquire Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana. However, despite nine matches already being completed in the ongoing campaign, the fast bowler is yet to feature for the franchise.

Pathirana’s continued absence has become a major concern for KKR, especially with the team battling to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The situation worsened further after Indian pacer Harshit Rana was ruled out, significantly weakening the franchise’s pace-bowling department during the first half of the season.

Ahead of KKR’s important clash against Delhi Capitals, mentor Dwayne Bravo finally shared an update regarding Pathirana’s recovery status.

“He is very close to playing, but we do not want to rush him because of the nature of his injury. We all want to see him back, but timing is important. It is great to have someone of his quality around the group again,” Bravo told reporters.

KKR Keeping Playoff Hopes Alive After Dramatic Turnaround

After enduring a disastrous start to IPL 2026 with six consecutive winless matches, KKR have managed to revive their season with three straight victories. The defending champions now enter every remaining fixture in a virtual knockout situation.

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The Kolkata-based franchise reportedly needs to win all five of its remaining league games to maintain realistic hopes of reaching the playoffs. Despite the pressure, Bravo insisted the team is staying focused on the process rather than becoming distracted by the points table.

“We are not worrying too much about the table. The message from the coaches is to treat every game like it’s our last and focus on winning our remaining matches, and let destiny take care of the rest. We had a poor start, but the last three games have shown improvement and given the group confidence. Results matter, but the process is the most important thing for us,” he said.

Dwayne Bravo Backs Varun Chakravarthy After Return To Form

Bravo also threw his support behind mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who has bounced back strongly after a difficult beginning to the tournament. The spinner failed to pick up a wicket in his opening three matches of the season, leading to criticism over his performances.

However, Varun has responded impressively by claiming 10 wickets in his next four appearances and once again becoming a key figure in KKR’s bowling attack.

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“In sport, everything is very result-oriented and emotional. Varun is a world-class spinner and had just come from a hectic World Cup. Sometimes, a break at the right time is important. Nobody doubted his ability. When you’re that good, it’s only a matter of time before form returns. The group has supported him throughout,” he said.

Bravo highlighted the importance of patience and recovery after a hectic international schedule, while also praising the team environment for continuing to back the spinner through his lean phase.