Sri Lanka and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) fast bowler Mathisha Pathirana walked off the field after suffering a calf injury during the T20 World Cup 2026 match against Australia in Pallekele on Monday, February 16. The right-arm fast bowler bowled only four balls before leaving the field holding his left calf.
This incident happened in the fifth over of the innings. After bowling his fourth ball, Mathisha Pathirana immediately went down, prompting the Sri Lankan physio to examine him. He later left and is now doubtful for the remaining matches of the T20 World Cup 2026 and possibly the upcoming IPL 2026 season.
Mathisha Pathirana was a part of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and played a decisive role in their IPL title win in 2023. Knight Riders signed him for a whopping price of ₹18 crore ahead of the 2026 edition. He took 13 wickets at an economy rate of over 10 during the IPL 2025 season.
Mathiesha Pathirana was KKR’s second-biggest buy in the 2026 auction after Cameron Green, who they bought for a record-breaking ₹25.20 crore. If Pathirana is ruled out, KKR may need to explore the available talent pool to replace their primary death over specialist.
| Mathisha Pathirana – IPL Bowling Statistics | ||||||||||
| Season/Tournament | Team | mat | Inn | balls | it goes | wickets | bbm | avenue | economy | sr |
| IPL (overall) | Chennai Super Kings | 32 | 32 | 702 | 1016 | 47 | 4-28 | 21.61 | 8.68 | 14.9 |
| ipl 2025 | Chennai Super Kings | 12 | 12 | 251 | 424 | 13 | 3-36 | 32.61 | 10.13 | 19.3 |
| ipl 2024 | Chennai Super Kings | 6 | 6 | 132 | 169 | 13 | 4-28 | 13 | 7.68 | 10.1 |
| ipl 2023 | Chennai Super Kings | 12 | 12 | 278 | 371 | 19 | 3-15 | 19.52 | 8 | 14.6 |
| ipl 2022 | Chennai Super Kings | 2 | 2 | 41 | 52 | 2 | 2-24 | 26 | 7.6 | 20.5 |
3 players who can replace Mathisha Pathirana in KKR for IPL 2026
Fazalhaq Farooqui (Afghanistan)
The Afghan left-arm fast bowler has taken 191 wickets in 153 T20 matches in various leagues around the world including BBL, ILT20 and CPL. However, his previous IPL stints were disappointing. He finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker during the 2024 T20 World Cup with 17 wickets.
For KKR, he can provide left-arm variety and a reliable 140+ kmph option to trouble the batsmen during the middle overs and during the death overs. The left-arm fast bowler is currently playing for Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup 2026.
Jason Behrendorff (Australia)
Jason Behrendorff has the ability to swing the new ball both ways. The Australian stalwart uses his height to generate extra bounce, making him a threat during powerplay overs. He has consistently performed well in the Big Bash League.
His tactical discipline and experience in high-pressure tournaments makes him a safe yet effective replacement for any frontline pacer. Although he may not bowl at extreme pace like Pathirana, his control over line and length helps him limit his scoring rate.
For KKR, signing Behrendorff would mean adding a bowler who is capable of breaking the top order early, allowing their spinners to control the middle overs.
Riley Meredith (Australia)
Riley Meredith is a hit-the-deck fast bowler who can consistently clock speeds of around 145 kmph. The Tasmanian speedster brings raw speed and aggression. Having played for Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians, Meredith is familiar with the demands of the Indian subcontinent.
If KKR want to replace Pathirana with another fast-paced right-arm option who can break partnerships, Meredith is one of the options available in the replacement pool.
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