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Cameron Green not bowling in KKR’s IPL 2026 opener has triggered a red-hot debate.
Cameron Green has a fitness concern. (Agencies)
Australia all-rounder Cameron Green arrived at the IPL 2026 as its most expensive overseas signing. Kolkata Knight Riders splurged Rs 25.2 crore at the IPL mini auction last year to secure Green’s signature, whom they believe will be the key to their hopes of winning a fourth title this season.
The 26-year-old took the spotlight as KKR opened their campaign with a defeat to his former franchise Mumbai Indians on Sunday night. However, the attention wasn’t for his performance, but for him playing purely as a batter and not being asked to roll his arm over with the team failing to defend a 200-plus total at the Wankhede Stadium.
KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane was asked after the match why they didn’t bowl Green, and he quickly put the onus on Cricket Australia. “Ask Cricket Australia,” pat came the reply from Rahane on Sunday.
With the focus shifting to Green’s home cricket board, CA reacted and claimed that KKR are fully aware why the all-rounder isn’t bowling.
“Cameron has a lower back injury which is being managed but requires him to abstain from bowling for a short period. Cameron is currently rebuilding his bowling loads in India with a view to return in around 10-12 days’ time. KKR has been communicated with and is fully aware of this information,” a CA spokesperson was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Interestingly, Green had registered at the IPL auction as a batter, which he later claimed was due to an error from his manager who he alleged ticked the ‘wrong box’.
“I’ll be good to bowl. I don’t know if my manager would like to hear this, but there was a stuff-up on his end,” Green told ESPNCricinfo. “He didn’t mean to say ‘batter’. I think he accidentally selected the wrong box. It was pretty funny how it’s all played out, but it was actually a stuff-up on his end.”
Former India opener Aakash Chopra quipped that KKR should be eligible for a refund.
“If you pay for an all-rounder and get a batsman in return… you should be, at the very least, eligible for a refund,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
England batting great Kevin Pietersen said if KKR aren’t allowed to bowl Green if they signed him hoping to utilise his all-round skills, then it’s ‘not ok’.
“If KKR knew Green wasn’t allowed to bowl and paid the price for a batter, then it’s ok. That’s their call. If they bought an all-rounder and now he’s not allowed to bowl, that’s NOT ok!” he wrote on X.
Green didn’t bowl in the recent T20 World Cup as well.
Why KKR Cannot Force Green To Bowl?
A player with a central contract must abide by the rules of his home cricket board. The board has the final word on the cricketer’s workload management too. Green is centrally contracted to CA, and hence KKR cannot force him to bowl unless he gets a go-ahead.
March 30, 2026, 15:00 IST
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