Matheesha Pathirana To Return For KKR Mid-April; Pacer Attends Net Session | Reports

Matheesha Pathirana resumes bowling in nets as Kolkata Knight Riders await his fitness clearance ahead of a possible mid-April return in IPL 2026.

Matheesha Pathirana has taken a significant step in his recovery by resuming bowling in the nets after suffering a calf strain during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year.

Despite being picked by Kolkata Knight Riders for a hefty Rs 18 crore in the mini auction, the Sri Lankan pacer has not yet linked up with the squad for the ongoing Indian Premier League season, which began on March 28.

His absence has been a notable one, especially given his impressive T20 record. Pathirana has claimed 47 wickets in 32 IPL matches, all for Chennai Super Kings, while overall he boasts 146 wickets from 109 T20 appearances.

KKR’s Injury Woes Continue to Mount

KKR’s fast bowling unit has been severely impacted by multiple setbacks this season. The franchise had to release Mustafizur Rahman earlier and then lost Harshit Rana due to injury. To address these gaps, they brought in Blessing Muzarabani as a replacement, while Navdeep Saini stepped in for Rana.

Additionally, the team is also without Akash Deep, leading to the inclusion of uncapped pacer Saurabh Dubey. These disruptions have contributed to KKR’s inconsistent start, with the team losing two of their first three matches, while another fixture was abandoned due to rain in Kolkata. That washout, however, helped them register their first point, placing them eighth on the points table.

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Mid-April Return Likely, Fitness Test Crucial

As per reports, the 23-year-old pacer is expected to join the KKR camp around mid-April. However, his participation hinges on clearing a mandatory fitness test and receiving a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Sri Lanka Cricket.

The fitness assessment is expected to take place next week, with several centrally contracted Sri Lankan players still pending or failing similar tests. Pathirana’s availability will be a major boost for KKR, who are set to face Lucknow Super Giants in their upcoming fixture.

With the team struggling early in the tournament, all eyes remain on Pathirana’s recovery timeline and his potential impact once he returns to action.