Predicted KKR playing XI vs SRH: Matheesha Pathirana to make debut, bowling woes needs quick fix

KKR will most likely bring in Matheesha Pathirana to their playing XI for the game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday

Kolkata Knight Riders are expected to make some changes to their playing XI for their next IPL 2026 game against a formidable SRH unit on Sunday. For starters, the team will eyeing to bring in Matheesha Pathirana into the line-up, since they need to fix their bowling woes. After all, the inexperienced pace attack comprising of Tyagi, Arora among others have been sub-par in the tournament so far. In terms of batting, KKR have been bailed out on multiple occasions by some batter or the other while the others have simply failed to fire.

KKR had a lucky escape in the previous game, thanks to a glorious knock from Rinku Singh towards the end of the game. The game went into a Super Over – the first of IPL 2026 – and it was Sunil Narine’s brilliance that allowed the team to get their second win of the season. But it was their bowling, especially in the death overs, that nearly costed the three-time champions the game. And that needs to be addressed urgently.

Predicted KKR playing XI vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

Ajinkya Rahane (C), Tim Seifert (WK), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Cameron Green, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Vaibhav Arora, Matheesha Pathirana, Kartik Tyagi
Impact player: Varun Chakravarthy

Pathirana in, Powell out

KKR coach Tim Southee dropped a subtle hint on Matheesha Pathirana possibly making his debut for the team on Sunday. The Sri Lankan pacer recieved an NOC from the country’s board onl in mid-April and linked up with the side recently. Pathirana’s addition to KKR’s playing XI will come as a much-needed boost to the pace department which has been struggling. The fast bowler’s inclusion will also mean that one foregin player will have to make way and that star could most likely be Powell.

“Yeah, he’s arrived. He’s been around the group for a little bit now. So, we’ll look at conditions and make a decision on the side that we think’s best for tomorrow’s game. He’s been bowling well at training and it’s great to have him as a part of the side,” Southee told reporters.

KKR will be expected to use Varun Chakravarthy as an impact player, just like they did so in the previous game. The spinner is yet to completely recover from fractures that he has sustained in his left-hand, and therefore won’t be risked with the bat. Varun will partner with Narine to spearhead the spin unit while KKR will also depend on Roy, Tyagi and Arora to chip in with the ball. But, the biggest concern for the team will be bowling in the death overs and surely, Tyagi’s blunders in the game against LSG won’t be forgotten.