Kolkata Knight Riders find themselves at the center of a growing controversy in the Indian Premier League 2026, with Cameron Green’s restricted role sparking debate over team balance and player management.
The Australian all-rounder, bought for a hefty Rs 25.20 crore, has yet to bowl in the tournament due to workload management directives from Cricket Australia. The decision has raised eyebrows, especially after KKR conceded 221 and 226 runs in their first two matches against the Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad, respectively.
Speaking on Star Sports’ ‘Amul Cricket Live’, JioStar expert and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar weighed in on the issue, suggesting KKR may need to rethink their team combination if Green continues to play as a specialist batter.
“KKR will need to think about their combination if Cameron Green is not going to bowl. If he isn’t contributing with the ball, then they might have to consider bringing in another specialist batter. We know he has scored a hundred in the IPL and that he can bat well, but his form hasn’t been great recently.
“Yes, he scored a hundred in a red-ball game in Australia not long ago, but this is where the team needs to look closely at the numbers. Green at No. 4 is fine, but the bigger concern seems to be the No. 5 and No. 6 positions, where they appear to be struggling a bit,” he said.
Former India opener Wasim Jaffer, however, took a stronger stance, calling the situation “unfair” to the franchise.
“Cam Green not bowling is unfair for KKR. Once you’re playing in a private league, it shouldn’t be your country that decides what you can and cannot do during that league. If that’s the case, you might as well not play. Teams pay huge amounts to acquire players with certain skill sets, and not using one of the skill sets, not because of injury, but because of workload management, is unfair to the franchise,” he wrote.
KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane had earlier hinted that the decision was influenced by Cricket Australia, a claim later confirmed by the board, citing a lower back concern and ongoing workload management.
Interestingly, Green has been seen bowling in practice, suggesting a gradual return to full all-round duties could be on the cards. However, his struggles with the bat, scores of 18 and 2 in two games, have only added to KKR’s woes, with the team currently languishing near the bottom of the table.
With pressure mounting and experts divided, KKR now face a tricky balancing act: stick with a restricted Green or reshuffle their combination to regain momentum in the tournament.