Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have been hit with a major setback ahead of their highly-anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on March 28. Star pacer Matheesha Pathirana has been ruled out of the game due to an ongoing injury, as confirmed by head coach Stephen Fleming.
This news has left CSK fans disappointed as Pathirana’s absence could impact the team’s performance in this crucial encounter scheduled at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. He also missed the CSK's campaign-opener against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Sunday.
Pathirana's unavailability stems from a recovery process that has kept him sidelined, though specific details about the injury remain undisclosed. Fleming addressed the situation on the eve of the match, stating, “He is recovering,” signaling that the Sri Lankan speedster is not yet fit to return.
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Matheesha Pathirana's Injury Woes
Since his IPL debut in 2022, Pathirana has been a vital asset for CSK. His slingy action and ability to deliver pinpoint yorkers have troubled many batters. In the 2023 season, he claimed 19 wickets in 12 matches, playing a significant role in CSK’s title-winning campaign. Even in a shortened IPL 2024 stint, where he played just six games due to a hamstring injury, he picked up 13 wickets.
CSK’s trust in Pathirana was evident when they retained him ahead of the IPL 2025 mega-auction. However, his recurring fitness issues have raised concerns.
Former CSK star Suresh Raina, during the broadcast of the opening game, hinted that Pathirana’s current absence is linked to a lingering fitness problem, though no official timeline for his return has been shared.
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Stephen Fleming Hints at Changing CSK's Playing XI vs RCB
In Pathirana’s absence, CSK will face a formidable RCB batting lineup featuring Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma and Tim David. The home team will likely lean on their pace attack, including Khaleel Ahmed, Sam Curran and Nathan Ellis, to give them early breakthroughs. The Chepauk pitch, known to assist spinners, could also play into CSK’s hands.
Ahead of the fixture, Fleming, when asked about CSK's playing combination, said that they are looking at a couple of new players, who can take the field versus RCB.
"We got a couple of other options that we're looking at," Fleming shared.
CSK will head to this match after winning against Mumbai Indians by four wickets, while RCB defeated Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to start their season.
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