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KKR's Rs 18 Crore Signing Matheesha Pathirana Leaves Field After 8 Balls on IPL Return

The exit leaves KKR awaiting a fitness update on a Rs 18 crore signing.

Overview

  • Pathirana, introduced as an Impact Substitute against Gujarat Titans on Saturday at Eden Gardens, pulled up during his eighth-ball run-up, received treatment, bowled a slower ball, and then left the field.
  • KKR has not issued an official assessment, and reports differ on whether the issue is in his hamstring or his calf.
  • He began the season on the sidelines with a left calf strain from February’s T20 World Cup and only joined KKR after Sri Lanka Cricket granted medical clearance in April.
  • Assistant coach Shane Watson said on May 12 that Pathirana was fit and pushing for selection, which raised expectations for his late-season impact.
  • KKR invested Rs 18 crore to shore up death overs with a bowler who has 47 wickets in 33 IPL matches for Chennai Super Kings, a need made sharper by injuries to Akash Deep and Harshit Rana.