IPL 2026: Kolkata Knight Riders Eye Redemption with New Additions

The IPL 2026 season is set to begin on March 28, with the Kolkata Knight Riders looking to bounce back after a disappointing finish last year. The team has made significant roster changes, but concerns arise over the fitness of Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana, who is recovering from an injury sustained during the T20 World Cup. His participation remains uncertain, leading to fluctuating ticket bookings. Meanwhile, Pathirana's manager hints at his readiness to join KKR. Explore the full details of KKR's squad and the latest updates on Pathirana's status.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 19, 2026, 10:22 IST

IPL 2026 Kicks Off Soon

The 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to commence on March 28, featuring 10 teams competing for the title in its 19th season. Among the franchises aiming to improve their previous season's performance is the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who finished in 8th place last year. To enhance their chances, KKR has made significant additions to their roster. However, a major concern looms over one of their key signings, Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana, who sustained an injury during the T20 World Cup 2026, casting doubt on his availability.

Reports indicate that there is still uncertainty regarding Pathirana's return to the KKR squad, as he awaits clearance from Sri Lanka Cricket following his injury. After bowling four overs against Australia in the group stage of the T20 World Cup, he had to leave the field due to injury, which ultimately sidelined him for the remainder of the tournament. Sources reveal that ticket bookings for Pathirana's participation are fluctuating daily due to the ongoing ambiguity surrounding his status. "They have yet to confirm his joining. We are in regular contact, and tickets are being booked and canceled almost every day for him," a source close to the situation disclosed.

Pathirana's Manager Drops a Hint

Cryptic Hint By Matheesha Pathirana's Manager

In a mysterious social media post, Pathirana's manager, Amila Kalugalage, shared an image of the bowler donning a KKR jersey on his X account, possibly suggesting that Pathirana is gearing up to play for KKR in the upcoming IPL season. KKR acquired Pathirana for a substantial sum of Rs 18 crore during the IPL 2026 auction after he was released by the Chennai Super Kings.

KKR's Squad for IPL 2026

KKR Squad For IPL 2026:

Ajinkya Rahane (C), Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Cameron Green, Finn Allen, Tejasvi Singh, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert, Rovman Powell, Anukul Roy, Sarthak Ranjan, Daksh Kamra, Rachin Ravindra, Ramandeep Singh, Vaibhav Arora, Matheesha Pathirana, Kartik Tyagi, Prashant Solanki, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Umran Malik, Blessing Muzarabani