Matheesha Pathirana ruled out of IPL 2026: KKR’s ₹18 crore signing ends season after just 8 balls, replacement named originally appeared on Cricket News.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Matheesha Pathirana ruled out of the IPL 2026 campaign with a hamstring injury.
- Sri Lanka pacer, bought for INR 18 crore, bowled only 8 balls for KKR.
- Luvnith Sisodia is named as Pathirana’s replacement.
Matheesha Pathirana ruled out of IPL 2026: Luvnith Sisodia named as replacement
Sri Lanka’s star fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana has been ruled out of action for the IPL 2026 campaign after suffering a hamstring injury.
Pathirana, who was bought for a whopping INR 18 crore at the IPL 2026 mini-auction, missed the majority of the season due to injury, which he picked up during the 2026 T20 World Cup.
The pacer finally regained fitness and appeared in KKR’s 12th match of the season against Gujarat Titans earlier this month. Pathirana came in as an impact player in the second innings as KKR were defending 247 runs against GT.
Unfortunately, Pathirana had to leave the pitch as his injury relapsed after bowling just eight deliveries, where he conceded nine runs.
On the final matchday of the IPL 2026 league stage and just hours before KKR’s must-win game against Delhi Capitals, it was announced that Pathirana has been ruled out of action and Luvnith Sisodia has been named as his replacement, who was signed for INR 30 lakh.
The statement read: “Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have picked Luvnith Sisodia as a replacement for the injured Matheesha Pathirana for the remainder of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Matheesha Pathirana, a right-arm pacer, is ruled out of the season due to a hamstring injury. Sisodia, a wicketkeeper-batter, was previously a part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and KKR in the IPL. Sisodia, who represents Karnataka in Domestic Cricket, has played 15 T20s and has 124 runs against his name from the same. He will join KKR for INR 30 Lakh.”
More to follow….