As the clock ticks for the start of the 2026 IPL, the KKR fans will have to wait a little longer to see the Sri Lankan player Matheesha Pathirana in the purple jersey, as the Sri Lankan Board still hasn’t given the NOC for the bowler. Pathirana was sold to KKR at the price of 18 Crore following his release from the yellow jersey.
According to the reports, the Sri Lankan player still hasn’t joined the KKR camp for the clash at the Wankhede Stadium. The player has received the formal NOC from the board, but according to the two-tier NOC system by the SLB, for players playing the IPL, the players have to undergo a fitness test as well to be able to play the IPL.
Pathirana will make his comeback in IPL this year with KKR, after ending 2025 in the yellow jersey, where he picked 13 wickets in 12 matches with an elevated economy of 10.00. Often called by fans as “Baby Malinga”, Pathirana led the league in wide balls, prompting his release by CSK ahead of the 2026 auction.
Pathirana suffered a calf injury during the 2026 T20 World Cup match against Australia, which led to his exclusion from the remaining T20 matches and his uncertain future for the IPL 2026. He was confirmed to be undergoing rehabilitation under the Sri Lankan Cricket Board on March 21, 2026. The confirmation came from head coach Abhishek Nayar.
Bumrah to not be in the match against KKR?
Not only KKR, but even MI is still awaiting the arrival of its key players: Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell Santner and Will Jacks. The trio did not join the MI training camp on Saturday and are uncertain for the KKR match on Sunday.
Bumrah was spotted at the Bengaluru’s Centre of Excellence just days before the tournament, raising concerns about his fitness, but nothing has been confirmed by the management.
