Matheesha Pathirana [Source: AFP]The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are facing uncertainty over the availability of Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana. The situation now looks more complicated, and his return may take longer than expected.Notably, KKR had invested heavily in Matheesha Pathirana, signing him for Rs. 18 crore during the IPL 2026 auction. The aim was clear, as the team wanted to strengthen their pace attack and improve their performance in death bowling. However, things have not gone as planned.Matheesha Pathirana got injured during T20 World CupIt is important note that Matheesha Pathirana suffered a hamstring injury while bowling in the group stage of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Along with that, he is also dealing with a calf injury picked up during the same tournament. As a result, he had to leave the competition early and begin recovery.Also Read: RCB Pacer Fails Fitness Test, IPL 2026 DoubtfulSince then, Pathirana has been undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Sri Lanka. At the same time, he is expected to go through fitness tests to determine his readiness. Sri Lanka Cricket has allowed players heading to franchise leagues to complete these specific fitness assessments. Earlier reports suggested that Pathirana might join KKR around April 6, which gave some hope to the team.Latest update on Matheesha PathiranaHowever, a recent report from The Sunday Times in Sri Lanka has changed the outlook. According to the report, Pathirana has not yet received clearance from the physios to resume training. This means he still needs to complete important fitness checks before moving forward.Only after successfully passing these tests will he receive a No-Objection Certificate to participate in leagues like the IPL. Some Sri Lankan players have already gone through this process. Notably, Nuwan Thushara did not pass his test for the second time. On the other hand, players like Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, and Dushmantha Chameera have cleared theirs and joined their respective IPL teams.As things stand, Pathirana’s return timeline is expected to be after mid-April. Therefore, he is likely to miss a significant portion of the tournament.KKR assistant coach Shane Watson calls it a “Waiting Game”Meanwhile, KKR assistant coach Shane Watson also shared his thoughts on the situation. Speaking before the team’s opening match, he admitted that the franchise is still waiting for clarity."With Pathirana, obviously, it's a waiting game at the moment. We're being guided by the Sri Lankan cricket board and we are just doing everything we can to get him over here as soon as possible."We certainly would never, ever push him any earlier than he needs to. Because the last thing that we want as KKR is him playing the first game, trying to come back too early and breaking again. So we just hope that sooner rather than later, he is able to come over here and we can really start the integration process," Shane Watson said at the pre-match press conference in Mumbai on Saturday.Watson made it clear that the team is prioritising the player’s full recovery. KKR is working closely with Sri Lanka Cricket to ensure that Pathirana returns only when completely fit.Meanwhile, KKR, led by Ajinkya Rahane, are set to start their IPL 2026 journey against the Mumbai Indians. The match will take place at the Wankhede Stadium.Also Read: Matheesha Pathirana Submits Official Report On IPL 2026 Availability
