Costly recruit Cameron Green found himself at the centre of attention after Kolkata Knight Riders’s high-scoring defeat to Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium. The Australian allrounder, bought for a record ₹25.2 crore, did not bowl a single over in the match, raising serious questions about his role in the side.
The decision became a major talking point after KKR failed to defend a massive total of 224. When asked about Green’s absence with the ball, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane gave a telling response: “That question you need to ask Cricket Australia,” hinting at external restrictions.
The clarification soon came from Cricket Australia, which revealed that Green is currently managing a lower back injury. The board confirmed that the allrounder has been advised to refrain from bowling temporarily as part of his recovery process.
“Cameron has a lower back injury which is being managed but requires him to abstain from bowling for a short period,” a CA spokesperson said. “He is currently rebuilding his bowling workload in India and is expected to return to bowling in around 10–12 days. KKR have been informed and are fully aware of the situation.”
Making his debut for KKR, Green batted at No. 3 and showed brief promise before being dismissed for 18 off 10 balls, as the three-time champions posted 220/4.
KKR’s bowling unit struggled to contain Mumbai’s chase, with the team deploying six bowlers including Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kartik Tyagi, Blessing Muzarabani, Sunil Narine and Anukul Roy. However, none could stem the flow of runs as Mumbai Indians chased down the target in just 19.1 overs to seal a six-wicket win.
Green’s limited role has now sparked debate over KKR’s massive investment, especially with the allrounder currently unable to contribute with the ball — a key aspect of his value in T20 cricket.
