Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bowling coach Dwayne Bravo expressed the team’s aspiration to excel as the premier bowling unit during a recent statement. However, a concern has surfaced for the defending champions at the onset of the season due to the absence of Sri Lankan bowler Matheesha Pathirana, echoing last season’s woes.
The setback stems from a hamstring injury sustained by Pathirana during Sri Lanka’s T20 series in Bangladesh, as confirmed by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). With an estimated recovery time of four to five weeks, Pathirana is set to miss CSK’s initial matches, prompting discussions with SLC to determine his availability.
A senior CSK official acknowledged the importance of Pathirana to the team’s bowling arsenal while accepting the unpredictable nature of such setbacks.
The upcoming Twenty20 World Cup adds an additional level of intricacy to the schedule for Pathirana’s return, and it is expected that SLC would take a careful approach before releasing him for Indian Premier League duty.
Rahman Steps Up Without Pathirana
It is pertinent to keep in mind that Pathirana played a vital role in CSK’s last title success, which underlines the challenges of losing him. CSK, on the opposite conjunction, has the ability to rely on different choices, and the senior bowler from Bangladesh, Mustafizur Rahman, has emerged as a possible asset in the early fixtures.
Rahman’s versatility in varying his pace and employing deceptive cutters aligns well with the conditions at Chepauk, where the ball often poses challenges for batsmen. CSK anticipates Rahman’s arrival at the camp on March 20, ahead of their opening match against RCB, expressing confidence in his preparedness to contribute effectively.
In addition to being aware that Pathirana’s absence provides a difficulty for CSK, the team continues to maintain a positive outlook on the possibility of using Rahman’s abilities to overcome the opening obstacles of the season.
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