Chennai Super Kings have been dealt a major setback as their specialist in death bowling, Matheesha Pathirana, has returned to Sri Lanka to recover from a hamstring injury.

After being absent for the home match against Punjab Kings in Chennai, Pathirana was also ruled out of the subsequent match in Dharamsala on Sunday. His absence adds to the woes of CSK, who were already missing Deepak Chahar, their specialist in powerplay bowling. Chahar did not travel to Dharamsala and is awaiting scan reports in Chennai after bowling just two balls against PBKS on Wednesday.

Pathirana appeared in only six games for CSK in IPL 2024, claiming 13 wickets with an economy rate of 7.68. He had missed the IPL 2024 season opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore due to a hamstring injury sustained while playing for Sri Lanka against Bangladesh in Sylhet in March. He becomes the second Sri Lankan fast bowler sidelined, with left-armer Dilshan Madushanka, who was set to make his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians, ruled out for the entire IPL season.

As Pathirana exits the IPL due to injury, Richard Gleeson from England, aged 36, becomes the sole overseas fast bowler in the CSK squad. Mustafizur Rahman's tenure with the franchise concluded on May 1, and the left-arm seamer has now joined the Bangladesh side for their current home T20I series against Zimbabwe.