The pacer Matheesha Pathirana has been cleared by Sri Lanka Cricket’s fitness test and has been given NOC to join Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the IPL 2026 season.

According to reports, Pathirana has recovered from his injury and is likely to KKR campaign on April 17. However, he will be available for the KKR’s game against the Rajasthan Royals on April 19 if he passes the KKR’s fitness test.

This will significantly boost KKR’s lineup, who are at the bottom of the IPL 2026 points table. Kolkata Knight Riders has depleted bowling attack after injury enforces withdrawals of Harshit Rana and Akash Deep.

Meanwhile, Mustafizur Rahman has also been released by the franchise ahead of the tournament. With Varun Chakravarthy out of form, the side has been hit with major concern on bowling attack.

They failed to defend the 220 run target against Mumbai Indians,and fall short of 65 runs in the game against Sunrisers Hyderabad. They also lost the game against Lucknow Super Giants and suffered three consecutive defeats.

Matheesha Pathirana who joined KKR for INR 18 crore during the last auction, was always expected to miss the initial few matches of the tournament after picking up a calf strain during the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Initially, he was expected to join KKR by mid-april at the earliest. Sri Lankan cricketers are required to clear the fitness test of SLC to join IPL 2026 in India. In the previous update given on April 06, Pathirana did not appeared for the fitness test.

His scenario was same with Wanindu Hasarangawho also picked up an injury during the T20 World Cup and in the recent update he has been ruled out of the IPL 2026.

The Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana has played 32 IPL games and picked 47 wickets. His ability to deliver at death overs makes his a valuable inclusion for depleted KKR’s bowling attack.