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EXPLAINED: Why KKR’s ₹18 cr IPL buy Matheesha Pathirana is not playing PAK vs SL 1st T20I?

Soumyajit Dutta

Matheesha Pathirana for Sri Lanka [Source: @OfficialSLC/X]Matheesha Pathirana for Sri Lanka [Source: @OfficialSLC/X]

Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, as part of a warm-up preparation, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are set to clash in the first T20I of their three-match series on January 7, with both sides fielding strong playing XIs. However, the contest has drawn attention due to the omission of Matheesha Pathirana, one of the most notable buys at the IPL 2026 auction.

Kolkata Knight Riders secured Matheesha Pathirana for ₹18 crore at the IPL mini-auction after Chennai Super Kings released him ahead of the bid. However, Pathirana’s absence from Sri Lanka’s playing XI for the opening T20I has raised questions, hinting at several possible reasons behind him sitting out of the match.

Why is Matheesha Pathirana not playing against Pakistan?

To begin with, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka did not provide any specific reason for opting against Matheesha Pathirana but stated that there was no particular thought process behind benching the pacer.

According to Shanaka, the team management plans to shuffle players throughout the three T20Is. For the January 7 match, Sri Lanka opted for a combination of seven batters, three all-rounders, and four specialist bowlers, which ultimately did not include Pathirana as a specialist pacer.

“From a team combination point of view, this is a great setup for the players to showcase their skills. We will keep changing things a bit in the upcoming games, but for today, we’re going with seven batters, including three all-rounders, and four specialist bowlers. It gives us good balance and flexibility in both departments,” Shanaka told at the toss.

Pathirana rested for the World Cup?

Another angle suggests that Matheesha Pathirana could be rested with the T20 World Cup 2026 in mind, which is scheduled to begin in February.

However, this possibility appears less convincing, as most other core players have been included in the playing XI for the opening game. This development may indicate that Pathirana might not be part of Sri Lanka’s preferred playing XI for the T20 World Cup 2026 either.

Pathirana to become a worry for KKR?

This situation, however, comes as a major concern for the Kolkata Knight Riders. The IPL franchise is banking on Matheesha Pathirana’s performances in the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20I series as well as the T20 World Cup 2026.

It would help them decide on deploying the pacer alongside their spin-heavy attack. With Mustafizur Rahman already out of contention due to socio-political pressure, KKR are now sweating hard and could face further concerns if Pathirana remains rested for the remainder of the series.