Pathirana set to miss the opening few days of Ind T20 League 2024 season due to hamstring injury

Chennai pace bowler Matheesha Pathirana will miss the start of the Ind T20 League 2024 season due to a hamstring injury. The 21 year old picked up a hamstring injury during the second T20I against Bangladesh in Sylhet earlier this month. 

The Sri Lankan slinger also missed the final T20I of the series, and has since been undergoing rehab with Sri Lanka Cricket physio. It is learnt that the designated death bowler will join CHE’s squad once he is given the green light from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). 

Pathirana’s injury is a massive blow to the reigning champions, who are already without NZ opener Devon Conway, who will be on sidelines until May due to a thumb injury. Pathirana has the best economy rate (8.00) at the death overs (between overs 16 and 20) among bowlers who had bowled a minimum of 90 balls during this phase last year. So, his injury is certainly gonna cause a few headaches for the men in yellow. 

Bangladesh left arm seamer Mustafizur could probably slot in this Chennai squad in the absence of Pathirana. Rahman, who is known for his bowling during the backend of a T20 game, has a golden opportunity to confirm his spot in the playing XI. The seamer had suffered severe cramps that resulted in him getting taken off the field on stretchers on March 18. But since then he has recovered to join the men in yellow in Chennai, and is available for the Ind T20 League 2024 opener against fierce rivals Bengaluru on March 22. If the Chepauk pitch is a rank turner, though, Chennai will be tempted to pick Moeen Ali ahead of Mustafizur. Rachin Ravindra and Maheesh Theekshana are the other two foreign spin alternatives for them. 

Chennai’s bowling coach, Dwayne Bravo had emphasised on the importance of death bowling in the build-up to the tournament. Shardul Thakur, who reunited with Chennai after two seasons, is among their alternatives in Pathirana’s absence. 

"Death bowling is my speciality. I believe that in T20s, [death overs] is a very important segment of the game," Bravo had said at an event in Chennai last week. "It requires a lot of skill, bravery and planning - from preparation in practice to the games, match awareness, and situations.

"You have to implement it in practice and get these guys to believe in philosophy and work towards it. Last year, we had the best death-bowling team, and we look forward to repeating it… Shardul [Thakur] is also back, which gives more depth. It is always good to have depth in the squad."

Meanwhile, Chennai’s hard hitting batting all rounder Shivam Dube, who missed Ranji Trophy knockouts due to injury, has also linked up with the franchise after completing his rehab at the National Cricket Academy, Bengaluru. 

Chennai, the five time champions, commence their Ind T20 League 2024 campaign with back to back home games against Bengaluru (March 22) and Gujarat (March 26).