Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders (MI vs KKR) fans have received several important updates regarding some of their core squads in the IPL 2026 season. Before the match, there was uncertainty over star players like Jasprit Bumrah and Mathisha Pathirana.
While Jasprit Bumrah is MI’s pace bowler, Pathirana is expected to lead KKR’s bowling attack. Bumrah’s recent visit to the BCCI Center of Excellence had raised fears of an injury before the match.
Multiple injury concerns ahead of MI vs KKR IPL 2026 match in Mumbai
KKR and MI will face each other at the Wankhede Stadium on March 29, the next day after the start of the season. On the other hand, Sri Lankan fast bowler Mathiesha Pathirana has not yet joined KKR for IPL 2026 as he is undergoing rehabilitation process.
During the pre-match press conference, both teams provided updates on their respective fast bowlers. Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene said that Bumrah is fully ready to play the match against Kolkata Knight Riders. On the KKR side, their assistant coach Shane Watson revealed that they are still waiting for confirmation from Sri Lanka Cricket regarding Mathisha Pathirana’s availability for the IPL 2026 season.
words from the coaches’ mouth
“Jassi (Jasprit Bumrah) is back with the (MI) team and he is available to play,” the MI head coach said ahead of their match at the Wankhede Stadium.
Shane Watson said, “It is a waiting game at the moment on Pathirana. We are waiting for a word from Sri Lanka Cricket. We hope to bring Pathirana here soon and start the integration process with KKR.”
Why are there doubts on Jasprit Bumrah and Mathisha Pathirana?
Just days before the opening match of IPL 2026, Jasprit Bumrah visited the Board’s Center of Excellence in Bengaluru, sparking speculation among Mumbai Indians fans as the pacer will be their main canon in their bowling armoury. It was later revealed that the fast bowler’s move to the center was not due to any injury, but to keep himself safe for the upcoming matches. According to reports, the seamer took strength and conditioning training in Bengaluru.
Even hours before Kolkata Knight Riders’ first match, Mathisha Pathirana remains an unsolved mystery. The fast bowler is in his home country Sri Lanka as the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Board has a strict stance regarding its key players. Through an official statement, SLC made it clear that the no objection certificate will be issued only if the players prove their fitness level. So far, Pathirana has not shown his fitness levels to be at peak, and is yet to receive the no-objection certificate.
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