KKR's Pathirana clears fitness test, likely to join squad ahead of CSK clash

Kolkata Knight Riders' depleted bowling onslaught is acceptable to person a boost, with Sri Lanka pacer Matheesha Pathirana clearing the mandatory fittingness trial of Sri Lanka cricket committee and expected to get a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Sri Lanka Cricket to instrumentality portion successful the tournament.It is not confirmed if helium volition beryllium disposable for the CSK match. However, TimesofIndia.com has learnt that the pacer volition articulation the KKR squad successful Chennai. KKR are scheduled to play CSK astatine Chepauk connected Tuesday.KKR person had a hard commencement to the season, with 3 defeats and 1 lucifer ending without a result. Their issues person been wide successful the decease overs, wherever they person struggled to power absorption batters. Losses to Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants highlighted these concerns, making Pathirana’s instrumentality important.The franchise signed him for Rs 18 crore astatine the auction. His information had been uncertain aft a left-leg wounded during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, wherever helium bowled lone 4 deliveries against Australia earlier leaving the field.Pathirana earlier played for Chennai Super Kings, taking 47 wickets successful 32 matches and contributing to their 2023 rubric win. His acquisition successful bowling astatine decease could assistance a KKR bowling portion that has lacked consistency, particularly with injuries to main pacers.

KKR’s concerns are not constricted to bowling. They are astatine the bottommost of the array with 1 constituent from 4 matches. Captain Ajinkya Rahane has faced disapproval implicit changes successful the batting order. Cameron Green has not delivered truthful far, portion Angkrish Raghuvanshi has shown immoderate promise.KKR adjacent look CSK successful Chennai, wherever conditions could suit Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy.KKR earlier besides mislaid Bangladeshi accelerated bowler Mustafizur Rahman, aft the Board of Control for Cricket successful India (BCCI) asked the franchise to merchandise him from the squad, and India pacer Harshit Rana owed to injury.