Major blow for KKR as star player undergoes rehabilitation ahead of IPL 2026

As the 2026 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) approaches, teams are set to begin their preparations and training ahead of the upcoming edition. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has just ended, while there has been a delay in the return of a few overseas players to their home countries due to tensions in the Middle East. Most of the franchises will hope to get their foreign players back on time and prepare with them.

Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana was sold for a massive price in the recent auction of the IPL 2026. After being released by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) following a challenging 2025 season, the pacer was at the centre of the bidding war and was eventually signed by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a jaw-dropping price of INR 18 crore.

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“Hello everyone! Just to clarify, I'm still in Sri Lanka continuing my rehab with SLC. I haven't gone to India yet, so please stay calm.” Pathirana shared the Instagram story after he missed the latter half of the T20 World Cup 2026 due to injury.

KKR’s Matheesha Pathirana undergoes rehab

In the picture, Pathirana was spotted wearing the Intermittent Pneumatic Compression devices on his legs, which suggests his rehab process. Early medical assessments suggest a recovery window of at least three to four weeks, which means Pathirana could miss the first two weeks of the competition.

Pathirana has overall picked up 47 wickets in 32 innings of the IPL at an average of 21.61, a strike rate of 14.90, and an economy rate of 8.68. In the previous season of the event, he picked up 13 wickets in 12 innings at an average of 32.61 and an economy rate of 10.13. His best season with the ball was IPL 2023, when he collected 19 wickets at 19.52.

The current report claims that IPL 2026 will begin on March 28. KKR may play around four to five games for the first couple of weeks of the league, in which they may not get the services of the Sri Lankan pacer.