Pathirana's Early IPL 2026 Participation in Doubt Due to Calf Strain

Matheesha Pathirana, the Sri Lankan pacer, is set to miss the early part of IPL 2026 due to a calf strain injury. He's expected to be fit by mid-April, according to KKR head coach Abhishek Nayar. Pathirana was bought by KKR for ₹18 crore and is a key player for the team, known for his wicket-taking abilities and brilliant Yorkers. This injury is a blow to KKR's bowling lineup, especially with Harshit Rana also missing the tournament due to a knee injury. The team is evaluating other bowlers to fill the gap, with options like Umran Malik, Simarjeet Singh, and KM Asif being considered. KKR is facing a tough time with injuries! Harshit Rana, their all-rounder, is out due to a knee injury he suffered during India's T20 World Cup warm-up match against South Africa. While there's no official word on his IPL availability, head coach Abhishek Nayar says they're already looking for replacements. Rana's absence is a big blow, given his importance to the team over the past two seasons, including their championship-winning campaign. KKR is considering options like Simarjeet Singh, KM Asif, and Sandeep Warrier to fill the gap. KKR's playing it cool despite the injury woes. Coach Abhishek Nayar says they're evaluating options to fill Harshit Rana's role, and mentor Dwayne Bravo's optimistic about the team's bowling depth. With Vaibhav Arora, Akash Deep, Umran Malik, and Kartik Tyagi up front, plus spin resources, they've got options. "Firstly, it is a big blow," Nayar said, "because Harshit has been an integral part of this team for the last couple of seasons, including the championship season. He has grown a lot as a cricketer over the years, so it's not easy to replace him. "So there are some guys that we are definitely looking at to fill the spot - the likes of Umran Malik. These guys are also players who have represented the national team at some point in time and have also played in the IPL before. They are young, exciting talents. So, for me personally, I'm happy to work with this group of fast bowlers. "We have the best spin attack in the entire competition, so from a bowling point of view, I think we will be fine. Also, I can't forget Vaibhav - what a fantastic season last year. He has been the leader of the attack over the last two seasons as well. So, yes, we've lost some key players, but I feel comfortable [knowing that] we have what it takes to replace those guys."