Matheesha Pathirana returns for CSK against GT after missing IPL 2024 opener

Matheesha Pathirana returned to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lineup for their second outing of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) against Gujarat Titans on Tuesday after missing the season-opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Pathirana, whom newly-appointed CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad described as "our Malinga" during toss, was the only change from either team in Tuesday's meeting between last year's finalists, and replaced fellow Sri Lankan Maheesh Theekshana in the lineup.

LIVE: Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat Titans, IPL 2024 Match 7

With Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman making the most of the opportunity handed to him in the opening game last Friday, collecting 4/29 against Bengaluru, CSK were forced to drop off-spinner Theekshana, who went wicketless for 36 runs in that match.

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Both Pathirana and Mustafizur had been doubtful for the opening match of the 17th season, though in the end it was only Pathirana, who had suffered a hamstring injury during the recent tour of Bangladesh, who failed to regain full fitness on time.

It's also worth nothing that the latter was selected in the XI only after the injury to Pathirana, and has since made it difficult for the team management to bench him following his four-fer.

Gujarat captain Shubman Gill, who opted to field after winning the toss, meanwhile stated that his team was feeling well rested after a "physically and mentally exhausting" match against Mumbai Indians, in which they fought back from a near-hopeless position to pull off a thrilling six-run win.

“That match was physical and mentally exhausting. Everyone is well rested and well settled with 10 teams playing. We get enough rest time between matches. It shows the character of the team, the way our bowlers bounced back against Mumbai,” Gill said during toss.

Teams:

Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Rachin Ravindra, Ajinkya Rahane, Daryl Mitchell, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Sameer Rizvi, MS Dhoni (w), Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Mustafizur Rahman

Gujarat Titans: Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Shubman Gill (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, David Miller, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Umesh Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Spencer Johnson