After Mustafizur & Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana’s unavailability increases CSK’s woes

The Chennai Super Kings are in a tough spot. After taking an early lead on the points table, their IPL 2024 campaign has taken a massive hit. They have lost three of their last four matches and lost three pacers in the last five days. Mustafizur Rahman had returned home after they lost to the Punjab Kings on May 1. Deepak Chahar was injured in the same match, and now their second highest wicket-taker, Matheesha Pathirana, has been ruled out and returned to Sri Lanka.

Moments after the PBKS vs CSK match started, the franchise released a statement:

“Chennai Super Kings pacer Matheesha Pathirana is nursing a hamstring injury and will be returning to Sri Lanka for further recovery. The right-arm pacer played six matches in IPL 2024 picking up 13 wickets at an economy of 7.68. Chennai Super Kings wishes Pathirana a quick recovery.”

Mustafizur was their highest wicket-taker (14) but had to leave on May 1 after his NOC expired. Now, Matheesha Pathirana, their second-best bowler, has also gone back home. Ruturaj Gaikwad has already been losing tosses (10 out of 11), and now his players are dropping like flies. It’ll be interesting to see how he and CSK handle their best bowler’s exclusion.