Chennai Super Kings, the defending Champions of IPL, have been dealt with a significant blow as star pacer is set to be ruled out for four to five weeks after sustaining an injury.
IPL is less than a week away and the opening match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) is on the horizon, scheduled for March 22 at Chepauk.
But ahead of that, Matheesha Patirana, a crucial player for CSK, has suffered a hamstring injury.
Pathirana’s injury occurred during the second T20I against Bangladesh on March 6 in Sylhet, where he had to leave the field during the match. His absence is a considerable loss for CSK, given his impressive performance in the previous IPL season. The young Sri Lanka pacer picked up 19 wickets in 12 matches, thus becoming an important member of the squad.
The timeframe for recovery from a Grade 1 hamstring injury is typically two weeks, but his return to the team remains uncertain. A source close to CSK told PTI that the youngster’s participation in the first few matches is currently uncertain. CSK will play four matches within the first two weeks of the season, and Pathirana may be forced to miss all of them.
It is a big blow for MS Dhoni, who regards Pathirana as a key player in the squad. Moreover, CSK’s roster faces another setback as New Zealand opener Devon Conway is expected to miss the first half of the tournament. Conway is recovering from thumb surgery following an injury during a T20I match against Australia.
The CSK team, led by MS Dhoni, boasts a robust squad including players like Moeen Ali, Deepak Chahar, and Ravindra Jadeja, among others. Chennai will take on RCB in the opener on March 22, then they will be up against Gujarat Titans (March 26), Delhi Capitals (March 31) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (April 5).
Sauradeep Ash Mykhel
source: mykhel.com