₹18 crore Sri Lankan pacer arrives April 19, cleared by board; available for rest of season vs Rajasthan and beyond

Before taking the field in the match against the Rajasthan Royals, some good news has arrived for the Kolkata Knight Riders. Matheesha Pathirana has joined the team.
He has fully recovered from his injury. After receiving permission from the Sri Lanka Cricket Board, he arrived on April 19, 2026 to join the squad. This means he will be available to play in Kolkata’s remaining matches.
The young bowler was one of the most successful players last year. Pathirana’s inclusion will undoubtedly strengthen Kolkata’s bowling attack.
A few days ago, Pathirana passed a physical fitness test in Sri Lanka. Following that, he received the Board’s permission and joined the team. Notably, the Knight Riders’ management purchased the young bowler for ₹18 crore in the previous auction.