Pathirana receives NOC as KKR lose first four IPL games

Matheesha Pathirana got his NOC from Sri Lanka Cricket Sunday evening. That piece of paper clears the 23-year-old to head to India, finally, after a calf tear from the T20 World Cup kept him out for weeks. KKR shelled out ₹18 crore for him at auction. Didn't matter—he missed their first four games. Three losses. One washout.

Zero points. KKR's dead last. They posted 181 for 4 against Lucknow Super Giants on April 11, only to lose by three wickets off the final ball. Cameron Green, back bowling his first over since the World Cup, leaked 28 runs. Chennai Super Kings had hammered them earlier by 98 runs. KKR collapsed to 137 all out.

Pathirana cleared his fitness tests in Colombo. Could be a debut against CSK at Chepauk on April 14. Or Eden Gardens April 17. Back in 2024, he'd snared 16 wickets for them at 7.68 economy.

Three-time champions—2012, 2014, 2024—now 12 points off the leaders. Every loss digs the hole deeper for playoffs. Pathirana lands in a side desperate for points.