Overview:
The five-time champions thought of getting him back, but the Knight Riders outbid them in the action-packed battle.
In a big scare for Kolkata Knight Riders, their INR 18 crore signing Matheesha Pathirana suffered a hamstring injury in Sri Lanka vs Australia match in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on February 16. He was injured during the third over of the Australian innings. After bowling the fourth delivery, he was seen clutching his left leg and was attended by the physio.
However, he left the field with the help of the support staff. KKR, the three-time champions, must be closely monitoring the development, considering his importance for IPL 2026. He is renowned for his toe-crushing yorkers and wicket-taking ability in the death overs.
Pathirana was with the Chennai Super Kings before being released ahead of the mini auction. The five-time champions thought of getting him back, but the Knight Riders outbid them in the action-packed battle.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka also needs him as the World Cup is about to enter the Super 8 stage of the tournament. With two wins from two matches, the co-host is one victory away from sealing the second round birth. They defeated Ireland and Oman in the previous games and have been playing well. On the other hand, Australia has won one and lost one so far, and a defeat to Sri Lanka could eliminate them from the competition.
Meanwhile, Dasun Shanaka won the toss and invited the Aussies to bat first, with Mitchell Marsh returning to the team after recovering from his groin injury. Australia have looked ordinary, with injuries to star players playing a big role in their slump.
Playing XIs
Australia XI: Mitchell Marsh (capt), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (wk), Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa
Sri Lanka XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka (capt), Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana