Here is a bit of fact that must be addressed and cannot any longer be shoved under the carpet. The way it stands at the moment, it has to be said, Kolkata Knight Riders’ time to make an impact in the Indian Premier League’s edition 2026 is rapidly slipping away. After having endured their fifth loss of the season- already- the time and tide, it seems, are slipping away from the grasp of the widely noted (once mighty) franchise of the IPL. They’ve surely seen better days in the past. But then, haven’t they seen better days in the past? Surely have, haven’t they?
And desperate times call for desperate measures!
After their most recent defeat sustained at the hands of the Gujarat Titans, former cricketer turned cricket analyst -expert, Akash Chopra has zoomed in on a subject that must be urgently addressed if you are a KKR team member or in any way connected to the team’s think-tank!
Here is what Akash Chopra had to say!
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has raised questions over the absence of Matheesha Pathirana ahead of Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) IPL 2026 clash against the Gujarat Titans (GT).
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra expressed surprise that Pathirana has not yet joined the KKR camp despite reportedly being fit and available.
The former opener used sarcasm to highlight the situation, joking about possible travel issues.
A query that is not so straight! Chopra pointed out that Sri Lankan pacer Dilshan Madushanka, who was recently named as a replacement, had already reached Hyderabad within a short time frame. This made Pathirana’s delay even more puzzling in his view.
He quipped whether Pathirana was traveling through unusual routes, mentioning the Strait of Hormuz in a tongue-in-cheek remark. Chopra sarcastically wondered if the pacer was coming by ship or stuck due to some kind of flight blockade, adding that he found the situation both surprising and disappointing.
Pathirana’s continued absence
Apart from Pathirana’s absence, Chopra also shared his thoughts on KKR’s possible team changes. He suggested that Finn Allen might have reached the end of his chances in the playing XI.
As alternatives, he proposed bringing in Tim Seifert or promoting Cameron Green to open the innings.
Chopra further recommended strengthening the bowling attack by including Blessing Muzarabani as an additional pace option, offering KKR a more balanced combination going into the match.
Furthermore, it also must be said that the insipid captaincy of Ajinkya Rahane, who seems to have lost his form after having struck some runs initially at the start of the tournament, isn’t helping anymore!
