Cameron Green didn’t bowl in KKR’s first two matches of the ongoing IPL season.
Australian all-rounder Cameron Green not bowling in the Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) first match of the IPL 2026 season against Mumbai Indians (MI) sparked significant controversy.
When asked during the post-match presentation why Green did not bowl, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane responded bluntly, "That’s the question you need to ask to Cricket Australia".
Following the backlash, a CA spokesperson clarified that Green is managing a lower back injury and rebuilding his bowling loads, while also claiming that the franchise was aware of this plan.
Cameon Green was not used as a bowler in KKR’s second game against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The three-time champions are set to face Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Eden Gardens on Monday (April 6).
Ahead of the fixture, KKR bowling coach Tim Southee revealed that IPL’s costliest overseas buy (₹25.20 crore) has resumed bowling in the nets and is “not far away” from doing so in a match.
“Yeah, Green’s been bowling well, tracking his rehab and getting himself back to being able to bowl in games. He’ll continue to do that,” Southee said in the pre-match presser.
Even though he was seen bowling at full throttle in the nets on Saturday (April 4), marking a positive step in his recovery, it is unlikely that Green will bowl against PBKS.
KKR are facing significant challenges in the pace department, with Harshit Rana and Akash Deep being ruled out of the entire 2026 season due to knee ligament and lumbar stress injuries respectively.
Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana (signed for INR 18 crore) is missing the initial part of the tournament due to a calf strain, with expected availability around mid-April.
Moreover, Green’s inability to bowl has disrupted the team balance, forcing a reliance on spinners and weaker pace options.
Southee said the franchise remains in constant touch with Cricket Australia. “We’re in regular contact with Cricket Australia and I’m sure we’ll see Cameron bowling soon. I’m sure he’s not far away from bowling in a match.”
KKR have suffered defeats in both matches so far, with their bowling attack remains a work in progress. Despite Blessing Muzarabani's four-wicket haul against SRH, the young pace unit is inexperienced, though Vaibhav Arora and Kartik Tyagi have shown potential. The seasoned spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy are yet to leave a big mark as well.
“It’s certainly a long tournament, two games in. With the setbacks with the bowlers we’ve been unable to have, it presents opportunities for other guys. We’re still excited about the bowling group we’ve got,” Southee said.
“They’re inexperienced but they’ve got a tremendous amount of skill. We’ve seen it in glimpses in the first two games. It’s our job to get a little bit more consistency out of them.”
“Although the first two games haven’t gone to plan, I’m sure they will show how skilful and how good they can be at this level throughout the tournament.”
Southee highlighted the importance of picking early wickets. “It’s always hard when you’re not taking wickets, particularly in the powerplay. Taking wickets early stems the run flow and makes things easier. We haven’t quite managed to do that so far, but we’ll plan accordingly and hopefully take those early wickets.”
The team management has also come under scanner for selection calls, with players such as Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra and Rovman Powell yet to get a chance. However, Southee said it is not easy to find the right combination.
“I think you look at all the squads, there’s so many good players to choose from. There are discussions around what side best matches up against the opposition and conditions,” Southee said.
“There’s so much talent that it’s hard to get the perfect equilibrium. But it’s the side we thought was best for the first two games. We’ll plan for what we’re going to come up against and pick the team that gives us the best chance.”
(With PTI Inputs)