Why is Matheesha Pathirana not playing in CSK vs KKR IPL 2026 match in Chepauk?

Matheesha Pathirana is not playing in the match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings, even though he has reportedly received a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Sri Lanka Cricket. His absence has surprised many fans ahead of the bigIPL clash.

According to reports, Pathirana was expected to be available for selection after getting the NOC clearance. However, he was still not included in the playing XI for the match against KKR. This has raised questions about the team’s selection plans and his current fitness or availability status.

The decision has led to discussion among fans and experts, as Pathirana is an important fast bowler for CSK. Many are now waiting for official clarification from the franchise about why he was not picked despite being eligible to play.

Why Matheesha Pathirana is not playing KKR vs CSK despite NOC from Sri Lanka

Matheesha Pathirana is not playing for Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings because he has not joined the KKR squad yet. He has received a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Sri Lanka Cricket, but he will reach India only on April 17. So he will miss the match on April 14 and will be available for the next game against Gujarat Titans on April 19. 

In his absence, KKR are expected to continue with their local fast bowlers in the playing XI for this match. Blessing Muzarabani was also considered after a good performance, but the team management did not include him in the final XI. Varun Chakaravarthy has returned to the squad after a short break and replaced Navdeep Saini in the playing XI. This decision is mainly due to team balance and player availability ahead of the important IPL fixtures coming up for the team now.

See also -Matheesha Pathirana, Eshan Malinga, Wanindu Hasaranga must pass fitness tests to play IPL 2026, confirms Ashley de Silva

Kolkata Knight Riders searching for their first win in IPL 2026

Kolkata Knight Riders, three-time IPL champions, are having a poor start in the new season. Under captain Ajinkya Rahane, the team has only one point after their first four matches. This is a very bad start, especially because they have already played three home games.

They started the season with an away loss against Mumbai Indians. After that, they lost badly in their first home match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Their match against Punjab Kings was washed out due to rain after a poor start. In the next game, they lost a close match against Lucknow Super Giants on the last ball.

Before the match against Chennai Super Kings, Rahane won the toss and chose to field first. He also confirmed that Varun Chakravarthy has returned to the squad. This is important news for KKR because he is a key bowler. However, Varun is not in good form. In his first two IPL 2026 games, he has not taken any wickets and has also conceded runs at an economy rate above 10.

Matheesha Pathirana's IPL journey and career performance

Matheesha Pathirana started his TATA IPL journey with Chennai Super Kings in 2022 and quickly became an important player in the team. His best season came in the 2023 title-winning campaign, where he took 19 wickets and played a key role in important moments of the matches. In four seasons with CSK, he became a reliable death bowler and was trusted in pressure situations. Before the IPL 2026 auction, he was released, and later Kolkata Knight Riders bought him for INR 18 crore. So far, Pathirana has played 32 IPL matches and taken 47 wickets. He has conceded 702 runs in 1016 balls. His best bowling figures are 4 wickets for 28 runs. His bowling average is 21.62, his economy rate is 8.68, and his strike rate is 14.94. He also has one four-wicket haul in the IPL.

KKR win toss and choose to bowl first against CSK

Kolkata Knight Riders won the toss and captain Ajinkya Rahane decided to bowl first at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The decision means KKR will chase in this important match against Chennai Super Kings. The CSK captain confirmed that there are no changes in the playing XI. This also means MS Dhoni is still not fully fit to play. He has been taking part in regular training sessions, but he is not yet ready for selection in the match. For KKR, Finn Allen and Tim Seifert are both kept in the Impact Player list as the team is using only three overseas players. Finn Allen has been the first-choice opener so far, but he has not been in good form. Because of this, KKR may give Tim Seifert a chance at the top of the order in this match against CSK.

Brief score:

Chennai Super Kings: 192/5 (Sanju 48, Brevis 41, Anukul 1/21)

Kolkata Knight Riders: 117/6 ( Rahane 28, Powell 13*)

(Scorecard at the time of writing this article.)