Good news for the Chennai Super Kings? With IPL 2024 playoffs qualification hanging on a thread, the Men in Yellow might have received a great bonus ahead of the RCB vs CSK match on May 18. A week after their ace pacer, Matheesha Pathirana, returned to Sri Lanka due to injury, he’s been declared fit.
Matheesha Pathirana declared fit by SLC
In a press conference on May 13, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) selection committee chairman Upal Tharanga stated that Pathirana has been declared fit for the entire T20 World Cup 2024. The slingy pacer had returned home on May 7 and had penned a heartfelt note to his IPL franchise.
However, now that he’s been given a clean bill of health, can CSK fans hope that he’ll help Ruturaj Gaikwad take the Men in Yellow to ultimate glory for a record-breaking sixth time?
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Why does CSK need Pathirana?
Despite playing six matches, Matheesha Pathirana was Chennai’s third-highest wicket-taker. He has 13 wickets at 13 with an economy of 7.68 and is taking a wicket every 10th ball he bowls. One can easily say that he was the best middle and death over bowler, with maybe Jasprit Bumrah ahead of him.
One has to also mention that Mustafizur Rahman and Deepak Chahar aren’t available either. If they were gone, having him would help Ruturaj Gaikwad a lot.
The only question now is: will SLC allow their best pace bowler to return while he’s still recovering from a hamstring injury? In all likelihood, the answer is no. But CSK won’t stop hoping, with five days left before the RCB vs CSK match.
