Matheesha Pathirana Injury Delays IPL 2026 Start for KKR

Matheesha Pathirana will miss the opening phase of IPL 2026, with Kolkata Knight Riders confirming that the pacer is expected to return only by mid-April. The update was shared by head coach Abhishek Nayar, who indicated that the bowler is still under rehabilitation with Sri Lanka Cricket.

Pathirana had earlier suffered a calf strain during the 2026 T20 World Cup, where he played just three matches before being forced off the field in a game against Australia.

"The latest update that we know is that he's obviously with the Sri Lankan cricket board and they took out of rehab," Nayar said during KKR's pre-season press conference. "And the latest communication that we've had is, hopefully, somewhere mid-April is when they feel he'll be a match fit. That's what we know as of now."

Double Blow for KKR Pace Attack

The absence of Pathirana comes as a setback for Kolkata Knight Riders, who invested INR 18 crore in the 23-year-old after his release from Chennai Super Kings.

Adding to their concerns, Harshit Rana is also unlikely to feature due to a knee injury sustained during India’s T20 World Cup warm-up match against South Africa. While not officially ruled out, the franchise has already begun evaluating replacement options.

"Firstly, it is a big blow," Nayar said. "Because Harshit has been an integral part of this team for the last couple of seasons, including the championship season. He's grown a lot as a cricketer over the years, so it's not easy to replace him.

"Having said that, over the last few days, we've looked at a few bowlers. We're trying to evaluate, with the help of the leadership group, who fits in and who can do that role to the best of their prowess. We're still evaluating that and haven't made that decision yet, but hopefully we'll identify someone soon who can make a difference to this squad."

Squad Depth and Confidence Boost

Dwayne Bravo remained confident despite key absences, pointing to India’s strong fast-bowling depth and KKR’s quality spin attack. He highlighted options like Umran Malik and Vaibhav Arora as capable replacements and expressed belief in the squad’s ability to adapt.

No Worries Over Varun

KKR management is not concerned about Varun Chakravarthy’s recent form dip, with coach Abhishek Nayar and captain Ajinkya Rahane backing him to bounce back after a short break.

KKR begin their IPL 2026 campaign on March 29 against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium.