In what comes as reassuring news for all KKR fans, Matheesha Pathirana has finally managed to clear the mandatory fitness Test by Sri Lanka Cricket and has received the no-objection certificate to travel to India and join his franchise KKR. Mathhesha Pathirana, who has significantly recovered from injury, will travel to India and will most likely join KKR on 17th April, the day KKR plays the Gujarat Titans. But he will only be available for selection from the next game, which is on April 19th at home against the Rajasthan Royals, pending fitness clearance from the KKR medical team.
This news will come as a big boost to KKR, who are at the bottom of the IPL points table, with Chennai Super Kings, who are their next opponents, and Pathirana’s previous franchise have managed to move above them with a win over DC on Saturday night. KKR, on the other hand, have three losses and a washout to show for and languishes at 10th place with one point from 4 games.
Matheesha Pathirana- Solution to KKR’s Bowling Woes
A lot has gone wrong for KKR so far, with their bowling being a major area of concern following the injuries and withdrawals of Harshit Rana and Akash Deep, as well as the release of Mustafizur Rahman, before the start of the tournament on the BCCI’s instructions, and their main spinner Varun Chakaravarthy’s loss of form.
The Knights failed to defend 220 in their first game against the Mumbai Indians, and have since fallen short by 65 runs to Sunrisers Hyderabad. On Thursday, they lost the game from a position of strength in the death overs with the ball against Lucknow Super Giants. Pathirana was acquired by KKR for Rs. 18 crore at the last IPL auction. He was always expected to miss the initial few matches of the tournament after picking up a calf strain during the T20 World Cup earlier in the year in the game against Australia in Pallekele. On March 20, it emerged that he would be able to join KKR by mid-April at the earliest.
Matheesha Pathirana makes it through while Wanindu Hasaranga gets ruled out
This clearance of Matheehsa Pathirana was pending the NOC, for which SLC requires the player in question to pass the fitness tests. In the previous update, we got on April 6th, Matheesha Pathirana hadn’t appeared for the fitness test. His scenario was the same as Wanindu Hasaranga’s, who also picked up an injury during the T20 World Cup in their opening game against Ireland in Colombo. In an update that came through on Thursday, Hasaranga has been ruled out of IPL 2026 as a whole.
It is a contrasting tale of two Sri Lankan players, both very important for their sides. Matheesha Pathirana looks after the pace department, while Hasaranga is the spearhead of the spin attack and a valuable all-rounder. Matheesha Pathirana has managed to recover and will ply his trade in IPL, while Hasaranga will miss out. He was taken by LSG, who have now named his replacement as well, in George Linde, who played yesterday.
There has also been an episode of Nuwan Thushara not getting NOC, and the player dragging the SLC to court. So, Sri Lanka has been in the news for the off-field stuff with players’ availability in IPL 2026. The likes of Eshan Malinga and Pathum Nissanka have got clearances and are playing the IPL from the start. The others must take their time and get fitter. Interesting times ahead for KKR, and they would love to get a win before Pathirana joins them.
If they don’t win till Pathirana arrives, then it will be too late for the Knights, as the Men in Purple will have to play 2 more games before Pathirana joins them officially. Let’s see how things pan out with KKR.
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