Big blow for CSK as key pacer suffers hamstring strain ahead of IPL 2024

Chennai Super Kings pacer Matheesha Pathirana has suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain on his left leg and is set to miss first few matches for the franchise in IPL 2024. The Sri Lankan fast bowler suffered the injury during the second T20I against Bangladesh at Sylhet on 6 March 6.

"Matheesha Pathirana will not be available for selection for the third T20I (on Saturday), as the player has sustained a Grade 1 hamstring injury on his left leg," Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said in a statement.

IPL 2024 starts on 22 March with defending champions CSK taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in the opener and there's a good chance Pathirana will not be available in that match.

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"The Grade 1 hamstring typically takes nearly two weeks to recover fully. So, it remains to be seen when Pathirana can join the team, and it is hard to tell at this stage whether he will be available for the initial couple of matches," an IPL source told PTI.

Pathirana was one of the major players behind CSK's title-winning campaign last season, taking 19 wickets from 12 matches.

This has come as second big blow for CSK after opener Devon Conway was ruled out for at least the first half of the league due to a thumb injury he sustained during the recent T20I series against Australia.

Conway was Chennai's highest run-getter in IPL 2023 with 672 runs at an average of close to 52.