Saikiran Uppuluri
Saikiran Uppuluri
Defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) faced a setback ahead of the upcoming IPL season as pacer Matheesha Pathirana suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain on his left leg. The injury occurred during the second T20I against Bangladesh on March 6, forcing him to leave the field without completing his spell. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed Pathirana’s injury, ruling him out of selection for the third T20I.
Pathirana, known for his slingy action, bowled 3.4 overs in the match and claimed two wickets, conceding 28 runs. The Grade 1 hamstring injury typically requires nearly two weeks for full recovery, raising doubts over his availability for the initial matches of the IPL, which begins on March 22.
The Sri Lankan pacer played a crucial role in CSK’s title-winning campaign in the previous IPL, picking up 19 wickets from 12 matches. However, with Pathirana’s injury adding to CSK’s woes, as opener Devon Conway is also unavailable due to a thumb injury sustained during the T20I series against Australia. Conway, who topped CSK’s run charts in IPL 2023 with 672 runs, is expected to miss at least the first half of the league.
CSK will kick off their IPL 2024 campaign against Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 22 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The team will be hoping for a swift recovery for Pathirana and Conway as they aim to defend their title in the upcoming season.
