Chennai Super Kings (CSK) key pacer Matheesha Pathirana‘s 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign appears to have concluded as the team confirms his return to Sri Lanka to recover from a hamstring injury.
The young talent had been struggling with an injury recently, causing him to miss both the home game loss against the Punjab Kings and the ongoing match against the same opponent in Dharamsala.
During the toss at the MA Chidambaram Stadium for CSK’s home match against PBKS, skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad mentioned that Pathirana was dealing with a minor issue.
Initially, it was hoped he would return after a brief rest, as he typically does. However, the injury is more severe than initially thought, prompting the pacer to leave the tournament midway to regain at home.
CSK issued a statement on their website, though it does not explicitly state whether he will be available for the later stages of the tournament, particularly the playoffs if CSK qualifies.
“Chennai Super Kings pacer Matheesha Pathirana is nursing a hamstring injury and will be returning to Sri Lanka for further recovery. The right-arm pacer played six matches in IPL 2024 picking up 13 wickets at an economy of 7.68. Chennai Super Kings wishes Pathirana a quick recovery,” the statement read.
Pathirana also sat out the beginning of the season because of an injury he suffered while representing his country during the away series against Bangladesh in early March.
The pace bowling injury dilemma at CSK amplifies with Pathirana’s exit
With Pathirana’s injury proving to be more severe than initially thought, CSK faces a significant dilemma as they approach the crucial stages of the tournament.
Additionally, fellow pacer Deepak Chahar appears to have suffered a serious injury during the home match against PBKS, exiting the field while bowling his first over.
CSK coach Stephen Fleming has confirmed the seriousness of Chahar’s injury, ruling him out of the ongoing match against PBKS in Dharamshala.
Furthermore, CSK’s other key death bowler, Mustafizur Rahman, is unavailable for the remainder of the tournament. The experienced seamer has departed for national duty ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup, as Bangladesh is set to face Zimbabwe in a five-match T20I series at home.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.