Matheesha Pathirana has successfully passed the fitness test required by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and has been granted a no-objection certificate to join the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the ongoing IPL 2026 season. He is set to travel to India on April 17, just in time for KKR's next match against the Gujarat Titans. However, he will only be available for selection starting April 19 for their home game against the Rajasthan Royals. This news comes as a significant boost for KKR, who are currently struggling at the bottom of the IPL points table after suffering three losses and one washout in their first four matches. The team’s bowling has been particularly concerning due to injuries to players like Harshit Rana and Akash Deep, along with the release of Mustafizur Rahman. Pathirana, who was acquired for INR 18 crore (approximately $2.2 million USD) at the last IPL auction, was expected to miss the initial matches due to a calf strain sustained during the T20 World Cup earlier this year. His return could help KKR improve their performance in the tournament.