Kolkata Knight Riders have suffered a major setback just days before IPL 2026, with Sri Lanka Cricket denying Matheesha Pathirana a No-Objection Certificate.
Pathirana, who was signed for INR 11 crore in the mini-auction, will now miss the entire season. He was expected to lead KKR’s death bowling attack.
This comes as KKR’s second big issue ahead of the tournament. Earlier, Mustafizur Rahman was removed from the squad on BCCI’s directive.
The franchise had brought in Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani as a replacement. But Pathirana’s absence now leaves them short on options again.
Fitness Concerns Behind Decision
While Sri Lanka Cricket has not officially shared the reason, reports suggest Pathirana has not cleared fitness tests after a long injury break.
The pacer has already missed Sri Lanka’s England tour and the home T20 World Cup. This points to a longer recovery period than expected.
Pathirana was seen as a key player due to his unique bowling style and strong record in the death overs. His absence creates a big gap in KKR’s plans.
KKR now have very little time to find another overseas fast bowler, with the IPL 2026 season starting on March 28.
So far, neither KKR nor the IPL Technical Committee has made an official statement. An update is expected soon as teams finalize their squads.
With back-to-back setbacks, KKR head into the new season with questions around their pace attack and balance.