Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Matheesha Pathirana went off the field just eight balls into his spell during its IPL 2026 match against Gujarat Titans on May 16.

Pathirana was playing his first match of the season, having suffered an injury during the T20 World Cup.

After bowling his first seven balls, Pathirana ran in to bowl his eighth but pulled out before releasing the ball. He then received treatment on the field, and bowled the next ball — a slower ball — before leaving the field.

Pathirana was signed by KKR for Rs. 18 crore in the auction, but had not played a match until this match. KKR has more widely struggled with injuries, with Akash Deep and Harshit Rana both missing the tournament and Varun Chakaravarthy also suffering an injury.

Published on May 16, 2026