IPL 2024: Matheesha Pathirana's manager provides update on pacer's comeback

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had dealt an early blow as their pacer Matheesha Pathirana was sidelined due to injury. Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024), Pathirana’s availability loomed on his match fitness. As a result, CSK’s death bowling prospects were under a severe makeover. Now, Pathirana’s manager has cleared the air on the pacer’s fitness and revealed that he was fit to unleash himself in the 17^th edition of the league.

Earlier this month, the right arm pacer had sustained a hamstring injury during the second T20I against Bangladesh in Sylhet. He did not even finish his spell and had to leave the field midway. It is worth noting that the Sri Lanka Cricket has not given any clearance to the bowler and he is currently undergoing rigorous rehab in Colombo. He was earlier anticipated to miss at least the first two league games for CSK. Speaking of Pathirana, Coach Stephen Fleming had said,

"Injuries-wise, we're going pretty good. Compared to last year, we're flying. But we're a practice [session] away from a couple, so we're always realistic. But what we do like is the depth of our squad, in particular, in the bowling this year. And the challenge will be getting those combinations right, based on form. But at this point, Pathirana is not with us [at the moment], but everyone else is going pretty well," Fleming was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Check out the latest update on Pathirana's fitness here:

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Shardul Thakur to lead CSK in fag end of matches in IPL 2024

With the Sri Lanka pacer potentially missing out, Chennai Super Kings’ bowling coach Dwayne Bravo seems to have been cracking the death bowling conundrum with Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur at his disposal. Thakur has previously led the CSK bowling attack at death. With the franchise trusting him again by acquiring him during auctions, he might hold significance in giving the team a proper closure when bowling.

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"Death bowling is my speciality. I believe that in T20s, [death overs] is a very important segment of the game. You have to implement it in practice and get these guys to believe in philosophy and work towards it. Last year, we had the best death-bowling team, and we look forward to repeating it… Shardul [Thakur] is also back, which gives more depth. It is always good to have depth in the squad,” Bravo said.