Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) IPL title defense has been dealt another blow with the news that young paceman Matheesha Pathirana is set to miss the initial phase of the tournament due to injury. This comes on the heels of the earlier loss of New Zealand opener Devon Conway.
Matheesha Pathirana sustains injury during Bangladesh T20I
Pathirana, who impressed with his death bowling skills in the previous season, sustained the injury during the second T20I between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on March 6. While the official extent of the injury hasn’t been disclosed, reports suggest Pathirana will be unavailable for the opening leg of the IPL.
“The Grade 1 hamstring typically takes nearly two weeks to recover fully. So, it remains to be seen when Pathirana can join the team, and it is hard to tell at this stage whether he will be available for the initial couple of matches,” an IPL official told PTI.
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Mustafizur Rahman likely to be included in CSK’s playing XI
According to reports, the Super Kings are actively looking for a replacement to bolster their bowling attack in Pathirana’s absence. This has fuelled speculation that Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman, acquired by CSK for ₹2 crore at the IPL 2024 auction, might be included in CSK’s playing XI upon to fill the void. Rahman, known for his accuracy and ability to take wickets in the death overs, has a decent IPL record with 47 wickets in 48 matches.
Pathirana’s absence is a significant setback for CSK, especially considering his contributions in the previous season. With just 14 IPL matches under his belt, the young pacer had already established himself as a dependable death-overs specialist.
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The two key player absences cast a shadow over CSK’s title defense hopes. Mustafizur, though a capable bowler, has some big shoes to fill. Fans will be watching closely to see how CSK navigates these early challenges and if they can find a way to compensate for the loss of these two valuable players.
Notable, CSK will begin their IPL 2024 campaign against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on March 22.
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