Kolkata Knight Riders’ High-profile signing of cameron green Record ₹25.20 crore has quickly become the talk of the town ipl 2026But not for the reasons the franchise expected. The Australian all-rounder, hailed for his dual skill set, did not bowl in the opening game against KKR Mumbai IndiansRaised eyebrows among fans and experts alike.
On the field, Green made a modest start to his KKR career as he scored a quickfire 18 off 10 balls on debut. However, his contribution was not enough to prevent KKR from losing after failing to defend the challenging score of 220 at the Wankhede Stadium.
Although he did not bowl, Green looked sharp in the field, displaying good athleticism and a strong arm from deep, indicating that his overall fitness may not be a major concern.
Former opener questions Cameron Green’s actions of not bowling in IPL 2026 match against MI
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra He did not hold back in expressing his concern over Green’s limited role. Taking to social media, Chopra pointed out the imbalance between what KKR paid him and the value he got on the field.
He argued that if a franchise spends heavily on an all-rounder, but uses him only as a batsman, it gives rise to legitimate concerns about value for money. Chopra even suggested that teams should be entitled to some kind of “refund” if a player is unable to deliver the complete package for which they were purchased.
“If you pay for an all-rounder and get a batsman in return… you should, at least, be eligible for a refund,” Chopra said in a video shared on X.
Captain Ajinkya Rahane avoids responsibility
kkr captain Ajinkya Rahane Faced with the inevitable question after the team’s defeat, he decided to keep himself out of the situation. When asked why Green was not handed the ball, Rahane said such questions should be directed at cricket australia Instead of team management. His response indicated that the decision may not have been entirely under KKR’s control, leading to speculation about underlying fitness concerns.
Putting an end to the uncertainty, Cricket Australia confirmed that Green is currently suffering from a lower back injury. According to an official statement, the all-rounder has been advised to temporarily abstain from bowling as part of his recovery process. The board further revealed that Green is gradually rebuilding his bowling workload and is expected to return to full all-round duties within 10 to 12 days. Importantly, the KKR management was informed about this development well in advance, which shows that there was no miscommunication between the franchise and the player’s national board.
Interestingly, Green had initially registered for the IPL 2026 auction as a specialist batsman. This created confusion about his availability as an all-rounder. The Australian later clarified that this was a mistake made by his management and assured teams that he would be fit to bowl.
