Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are contemplating the debut of Matheesha Pathirana, a Sri Lankan pacer acquired for ₹18 crore during the IPL 2026 auction, in their upcoming match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on May 3. Pathirana joined the KKR camp mid-April after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during the T20 World Cup 2026. Despite being available for the last two matches, he has not yet taken the field. KKR has faced challenges this season, winning only 2 out of 8 matches, but they have shown signs of recovery with two consecutive wins. Tim Southee, KKR's bowling coach, acknowledged Pathirana's presence in the squad, stating, “He’s been bowling well at training, and it’s great to have him a part of the side.” KKR's current overseas players include Cameron Green, Tim Seifert, Rovman Powell, and Sunil Narine, with Seifert struggling to score runs recently. The inclusion of Pathirana could enhance KKR's bowling options as they strive to improve their standings in the tournament.