3 players who could replace Matheesha Pathirana at KKR if he is ruled out of IPL 2026

KKR bought Matheesha Pathirana at the auction for a whopping 18 crores.

The 3-time IPL champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, find themselves in massive trouble even before the start of the IPL 2026. Injuries have jolted their campaign, with Harshit Rana already ruled out, and Mustafizur Rahman had to be released as per the orders of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. (BCCI).

Now, KKR‘s another marquee buy, Matheesha Pathirana, could be ruled out of the tournament. Picked for 18 Cr, the Sri Lankan pacer is one of the most reliable death bowlers in the T20 format.

However, he was ruled out of the T20 World Cup mid-way due to an injury sustained in the match against Australia during the group stage. Pathirana provided an injury update stating he is currently in rehab with the Sri Lankan Cricket Board and has not traveled to India yet.

“Hello, everyone!! Just to clarify, I’m still in Sri Lanka continuing my rehab with SLC. I haven’t gone to India yet, so please stay calm!”

However, it is not yet clear whether he will miss the first few matches of the upcoming season or will be out for the entire season.

Players who could replace Pathirana if he gets ruled out-

3. Shadley van Schalkwyk

The USA did not have much success in the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2026, but one American bowler who made headlines was Shadley van Schalkwyk.

Van Schalkwyk impressed with his variations and excellent death bowling under pressure, and also picked four wickets each against India and Pakistan. Despite playing just 5 matches, he took 13 wickets and finished as the third-highest wicket-taker, with an average of just 7.77 and an economy of 6.81.

2. Fazalhaq Farooqi

Fazalhaq Farooqi is another option who will be available for the IPL, as he withdrew from PSL due to ongoing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Farooqui played for the Rajasthan Royals last year and could give KKR a left-arm bowling option.

He can swing the ball upfront and nail yorkers at the back end. Moreover, Farooqi played just two matches at the T20 World Cup 2026 for his country and is expected to be fit and potentially ready to go if given a chance.

1. Gerald Coetzee

If given the opportunity, Gerald Coetzee would be a perfect foreign replacement for Pathirana. There are not too many death bowlers available, but Coetzee can run hard and serve as a wicket-taking option in the middle overs and death phase.

The South African is also an extremely handy option lower down the order, and can provide crucial cameos at the end of the innings. Coetzee will also have a point to prove to his national team, having been dropped from South Africa’s white-ball setup.

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