It’s a waiting game at the moment: Watson on Pathirana’s availability

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is holding its fingers crossed over Matheesha Pathirana’s availability in IPL 2026. KKR assistant coach Shane Watson admitted that it was a “ready recreation” because the Sri Lankan pacer continues his restoration from a left calf harm.

Purchased for a whopping ₹18 crore on the public sale, Pathirana was amongst KKR’s high priorities, however Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is but to clear him to journey to India and be part of the squad.

“With Pathirana, clearly it’s a ready recreation in the mean time. We’re being guided by SLC and doing all the things we will to get him over right here as quickly as potential,” Watson stated right here on Saturday, forward of KKR’s season-opener towards Mumbai Indians.

Watson confused that the franchise was aligned with SLC in guaranteeing the slinger returns solely when totally match. “We now have bought the very same pursuits as Sri Lankan cricket as effectively. We wish Pathirana to be right here, we would like him to be match. We actually would by no means push him any sooner than he must,” he stated.

“The very last thing that we would like is him enjoying the primary recreation making an attempt to come back again too early and break down. He was one in every of our high priorities within the public sale. We all know when he’s at his greatest, the unimaginable talent that he has bought and the distinction that he supplies.”

For now, KKR hopes the clearance arrives quickly — not only for match readiness but in addition to ease his integration into the squad. “We now have bought our fingers crossed hopefully sooner fairly than later,” Watson added.