NEW DELHI:
Matheesha Pathirana
, the promising Sri Lankan pacer and key player for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), is set to miss the opening matches of the
IPL 2024
season after suffering an injury during the second T20I against Bangladesh earlier this month.
According to ESPNCricinfo, the 21-year-old right-arm bowler sustained the injury during the match and subsequently sat out the third T20I against Bangladesh.
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Pathirana's absence will be felt by CSK, especially considering his impressive performance in the previous IPL season where he emerged as one of the standout performers for the team, claiming 19 wickets at an average of 19.52. His ability to deliver crucial breakthroughs made him an integral part of CSK's bowling attack.
CSK bowling coach
Dwayne Bravo
acknowledged the importance of death bowling in T20 cricket, emphasizing the skill, bravery, and planning required for a bowler to excel in the final overs of a match.
Bravo highlighted the team's focus on replicating their success in death bowling from the previous season, aiming to maintain their reputation as one of the best death bowling units in the IPL.
Bravo also expressed optimism about the return of
Shardul Thakur
, which provides additional depth to CSK's bowling lineup. The presence of experienced players like Thakur adds versatility and options for CSK as they aim to defend their title in the upcoming IPL season.
The news of Pathirana's injury comes as CSK prepare to kick off their IPL 2024 campaign against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in a highly anticipated clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Pathirana's availability for the match will depend on his recovery and clearance from the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board.
As CSK look to begin their title defense on a winning note, the absence of Pathirana underscores the challenges they may face in the initial matches of the season. However, with a talented squad and experienced players like Bravo leading the way, CSK remains determined to overcome hurdles and strive for success in IPL 2024.
CSK squad for IPL 2024: MS Dhoni (C), Moeen Ali, Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube,
Ruturaj Gaikwad
, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ajay Mandal, Mukesh Choudhary, Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Mitchell Santner, Simarjeet Singh, Nishant Sindhu, Prashant Solanki, Maheesh Theekshana, Rachin Ravindra, Shardul Thakur, Daryl Mitchell, Sameer Rizvi,
Mustafizur Rahman
, Avanish Rao Aravelly.
(With inputs from ANI)
English (US) ·