In a major blow to the Chennai Super Kings, star pacer Matheesha Pathirana will return to Sri Lanka to continue his recovery from a hamstring injury that kept him out of action in the last week in IPL 2024.
Pathirana was CSK's best bowler and the 5-time champions heavily depended on him to not just take wickets but also control the flow of runs in the death overs. He had so far taken 13 wickets from 6 matches.
"Matheesha Pathirana is nursing a hamstring injury and will be returning to Sri Lanka for further recovery. Chennai Super Kings wishes Pathirana a quick recovery," CSK said in a statement on Sunday.
Pathirana last played for CSK during their 78-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he bowled two overs and picked up the wickets of Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen.
Pathirana missed the match against Punjab Kings at Chennai on May 1 with England pacer Richard Gleeson replacing him.
Though CSK didn't reveal if Pathirana would be back in the latter stages of the tournament but his return lookes doubtful.
Pace bowling all-rounder Deepak Chahar too is set to miss the remainder of the IPL with a niggle he sustained during the match against Punjab at Chepauk.
Chahar walked off the field after bowling just two balls and Shardul Thakuar had completed the over for him.
"Deepak Chahar doesn't look good. The initial feeling wasn't great. So, I'm hoping for a more positive report when the physio and the doctor have a look," CSK coach Stephen Fleming had said after that match.
CSK will also be without Sri Lankan spinner Maheesh Theekshana at least for a couple of more matches as he is expected to fly back to Sri Lanka to complete his USA visa process ahead of next month's T20 World Cup in the Americas.
Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman's IPL stint too came to an end in the previous match against PBKS after he has joined the national team for the home T20I series against Zimbabwe.