Big setback for CSK, star player to miss blockbuster IPL 2025 clash against RCB, head coach Stephen Fleming reveals reason

In a big blow to Ruturaj Gaikwad's Chennai Super Kings (CSK), their star pacer Matheesha Pathirana will be unavailable for their key IPL 2025 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on March 28. The blockbuster IPL 2025 clash between CSK and RCB is scheduled to take place at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on March 28.

Matheesha Pathirana to miss CSK vs RCB clash

Unfortunately for CSK and their fans, this isn't the first game Pathirana will miss this season. The Sri Lankan pace sensation was also sidelined for CSK’s opening IPL 2025 fixture against the Mumbai Indians (MI).

“Pathirana is recovering from injury: Stephen Fleming. So don’t expect him to play tomorrow,” CSK head coach Stephen Fleming said, as quoted by Indian Express.

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Leading up to the highly anticipated CSK versus RCB encounter in Chennai, head coach Stephen Fleming has made an official announcement regarding Matheesha Pathirana's availability. Fleming confirmed that the Sri Lankan pace bowler will indeed be unavailable for this upcoming match. still in the recovery process from an injury, which unfortunately prevents him from participating in this much-awaited IPL 2025 clash in Chennai. However, while confirming Pathirana's absence, the CSK coach did not provide any specific details regarding the nature of the injury or the extent of the discomfort the young bowler is experiencing.

Matheesha Pathirana has become an integral part of the CSK setup since his IPL debut back in 2022 against the Gujarat Titans. Even though CSK didn't win that particular match, Pathirana made a positive first impression with bowling figures of 2 for 24. The Sri Lankan bowler really burst onto the scene during the IPL 2023 season, where he was instrumental in CSK's championship victory, picking up an impressive 19 wickets in just 12 games.

Pathirana continued his excellent form into IPL 2024, grabbing 13 wickets in a mere six matches before a hamstring injury cut his season short. That injury occurred during a series against Bangladesh in March of last year, preventing him from participating in the entirety of the IPL season for CSK.

Over his three IPL seasons so far, Pathirana has featured in 20 matches, securing a total of 34 wickets while maintaining a respectable economy rate of 7.68. His most memorable performance came in IPL 2024 against the Mumbai Indians, where he achieved his best figures of 4 wickets for 28 runs. However, unfortunately for CSK fans, he is yet to take the field in the yellow jersey this season due to his current injury.

Both the CSK and RCB have kicked off their IPL 2025 campaigns on a winning note, which really sets the scene for a highly anticipated and intense showdown in Chennai. RCB head into this match after a dominant win over Kolkata Knight Riders, while CSK also started strong by outperforming Mumbai Indians in their season openers.