CSK’s Matheesha Pathirana returned to Sri Lanka due to a hamstring injury, dealing a significant blow to Chennai Super Kings’ bowling lineup for the remainder of the tournament.
Chennai Super Kings’ bowling unit took another hit with pacer Matheesha Pathirana sidelined due to a hamstring injury, prompting his return to Sri Lanka for recovery. With an impressive performance of 13 wickets in six matches at an economy rate of 7.68, he ranked as CSK’s second-best bowler this IPL season, trailing only behind Mustafizur Rahman. Being among the top five wicket-takers league-wide, his absence proved costly as CSK suffered a home defeat against Punjab Kings in their last match.
“Chennai Super Kings pacer Matheesha Pathirana is nursing a hamstring injury and will be returning to Sri Lanka for further recovery,” read an official statement.
The franchise hasn’t confirmed if Pathirana will make a comeback this season. His absence added to CSK’s woes, already missing Deepak Chahar, their powerplay ace. Chahar didn’t join the team in Dharamsala and awaits scan results in Chennai after bowling just two balls against PBKS.
Furthermore, Mustafizur Rahman, the top wicket-taker for Chennai this season, has also departed for Bangladesh duty ahead of their series with Zimbabwe. With 14 dismissals in nine games, his absence is significant.
CSK, currently fifth in the standings with five wins and losses each in ten matches, will aim to strengthen their playoff chances. With just a two-point gap behind Sunrisers Hyderabad in fourth place, Chennai will aim to finish strongly and secure a playoff berth in a fiercely contested IPL season’s final stretch.
Last Updated on May 5, 2024
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