The return of Matheesha Pathirana in the Indian Premier League IPL 2026 has been one of the major talking points for fans of the league. The Sri Lankan pacer, who was signed by KKR for INR 18 crore in the auction, has not featured in any match so far, and his comeback continues to be pushed back as the team management takes a cautious approach. Further delay in Matheesha Pathirana’s participation According to India Today, the fast bowler was initially expected to be available during the clash between Gujarat Titans and Kolkata Knight Riders on April 17. However, that return never materialised as his fitness clearance was not fully given by the medical staff. As a result, he is further unlikely to feature in KKR's clash against RR. Now that KKR are struggling heavily this season, expectations around his return have only grown stronger. Fans are hoping he could still play a role in salvaging what is left of their campaign. Kolkata Knight Riders season struggles It has been a difficult campaign for Kolkata Knight Riders under Ajinkya Rahane. The side has managed only one point in six matches and that game was affected by rain. Batting has looked inconsistent throughout the season, but the bigger concern has been the bowling unit. Several key names picked up injuries before the tournament, leaving the team short on experience and depth. This has created constant selection issues and unsettled combinations across matches. The delay in Pathirana's return has further added to KKR’s worries. The franchise was hoping for his pace and death bowling skills to stabilise the attack, but the rehabilitation process has taken longer than expected. He remains under observation and is expected to gradually join training sessions before any decision is made on his inclusion in the playing eleven. KKR predicted playing XI vs RR Impact option remains flexible depending on match conditions, but Matheesha Pathirana is not expected to feature in this game. With pressure rising and results not going their way, KKR will again look for a turnaround, but without their full-strength bowling attack, the challenge only gets tougher. Kolkata Knight Riders: Tim Seifert, Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi Also READ: Jitesh Sharma wanted to be the hero for RCB but produced the slowest innings of his T20 career