Matheesha Pathirana ruled out of T20 World Cup: Here's why
18 Feb 2026

Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana has been ruled out of the ongoing T20 World Cup due to a muscle strain on his left leg.

The news was mentioned by Sri Lanka's batting coach Vikram Rathour, who noted Pathirana's unfitness and expected an official update soon.

Pathirana suffered the injury just four balls into his spell against Australia in Pallekele, raising concerns over its severity.

Dilshan Madushanka replaces Pathirana
Injury impact

Pathirana was seen clutching his left leg after bowling the fourth ball of his first over against Australia.

He was assisted off the field by a physio, leaving Dasun Shanaka to complete the over.

Left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka has been approved by the ICC's Event Technical Committee as a replacement for Pathirana.

IPL participation not yet confirmed
IPL future

Despite being ruled out of the T20 World Cup, Matheesha Pathirana's participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is not in doubt for the time being.

However, no official statement has been made regarding his availability for the upcoming IPL season due to this injury setback.

Sri Lanka's unbeaten run in T20 WC 2026
Tournament progress

Sri Lanka have been impressive in the T20 World Cup 2026, winning all three of their group-stage matches to qualify for the Super 8.

They beat Ireland by 20 runs and chased down Australia's target of 182 by eight wickets, with Pathum Nissanka scoring an unbeaten century.

Their flawless run has made them one of the strongest contenders for the next phase of this tournament.