Sri Lanka were dealt a major blow, and Kolkata Knight Riders an early headache, after Matheesha Pathirana limped off with a suspected hamstring injury
during their T20 World Cup 2026 clash against Australia in Pallekele.
The 23-year-old pace spearhead lasted just four balls into his opening spell. While delivering the fourth ball of his first over, the third of the innings, Pathirana pulled up abruptly in his follow-through and immediately went down clutching his left leg. Medical staff rushed in as the 'slinger' lay on the turf, before he was helped off the field. Captain Dasun Shanaka stepped in to complete the remaining two deliveries of the over.
There was no official update from the Sri Lankan camp at the time of reporting, but the visual signs were concerning. Hamstring injuries, particularly for high-intensity fast bowlers, can prove tricky, especially in a compressed tournament schedule.
For Sri Lanka, it compounds an already challenging campaign. Wanindu Hasaranga had earlier been ruled out of the tournament through injury, and losing Pathirana, even temporarily, would severely dent their bowling firepower. The right-armer had appeared to be regaining rhythm in recent outings after reportedly spending months fine-tuning his action.
How Matheesha Pathirana injury affects IPL
Kolkata Knight Riders secured Pathirana for INR 18 crore ahead of the 2026 season, which begins in just over 40 days. Any prolonged absence would be a significant setback for the franchise, particularly as they are already set to miss Mustafizur Rahman (INR 9.20 crore) after the BCCI directed his release amid diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh.
KKR invested heavily in pace this cycle. If Pathirana's injury proves serious, their carefully built bowling combination could require urgent recalibration, before the season even begins.
