Pathirana leaves field mid-over on debut; KKR’s 18 crore gamble under threat

Matheesha Pathirana suffered an wounded scare during his long-awaited IPL 2026 debut for Kolkata Knight Riders against Gujarat Titans connected Saturday aft walking disconnected the tract midway done his spell. The Sri Lankan pacer, who was making his archetypal quality of the play aft recovering from an wounded sustained during the T20 World Cup, looked successful discomfort conscionable 8 balls into his outing.

Pathirana had bowled 7 deliveries earlier pulling retired of his run-up portion attempting to present his eighth ball. Medical unit instantly attended to him connected the tract arsenic interest dispersed among KKR players and fans. Despite the discomfort, the accelerated bowler completed 1 much transportation — a slower shot — earlier yet leaving the tract for further treatment. KKR had invested heavy successful Pathirana during the IPL 2026 auction, signing the Sri Lankan speedster for a monolithic Rs 18 crore. His instrumentality was seen arsenic a large boost for the erstwhile champions, particularly with the squad warring to enactment live successful the playoff race. The wounded interest came connected a nighttime wherever KKR’s batters wholly dominated Gujarat Titans successful a must-win clash astatine Eden Gardens. Earlier successful the innings, Finn Allen unleashed a breathtaking assault, smashing 93 disconnected conscionable 35 deliveries with 10 sixes aft surviving 2 dropped catches. The explosive opener tore isolated GT’s onslaught and powered KKR to a flying commencement aft Gujarat skipper Shubman Gill opted to tract archetypal connected a sticky surface.

After Allen’s dismissal, Angkrish Raghuvanshi and

Cameron Green

continued the demolition with unbeaten half-centuries and a 108-run concern disconnected conscionable 53 balls. Gujarat’s fielding nightmare lone worsened matters arsenic they dropped 4 catches during the innings, allowing Allen, Raghuvanshi and Green to afloat capitalise. KKR yet piled up 247/2, their highest full of the play and the highest-ever IPL full against Gujarat Titans.