Why Is Cameron Green Not Bowling For KKR? That was the big question during the MI vs KKR IPL 2026 clash at Wankhede, and captain Ajinkya Rahane has now offered some clarity.
Despite being one of the most expensive all-rounders in the league, Cameron Green did not bowl a single over for Kolkata Knight Riders during their opening game against Mumbai Indians. This raised eyebrows, especially as KKR’s bowlers were taken apart by Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton during the chase.
Even commentators, including Kevin Pietersen, repeatedly questioned the absence of Cameron Green from the KKR bowling line-up during the game. When joining the KKR squad for IPL 2026, Green was expected to be bowling as well.
(updated on March 30 with Cameron Green bowling update)
Why Is Cameron Green Not Bowling For KKR? Rahane Points To Cricket Australia
Addressing the situation, Ajinkya Rahane gave a telling response when asked about Cameron Green bowling.
“The question you need to ask Cricket Australia,” Rahane said, hinting that the decision may not entirely be in KKR’s hands.
This suggests that Cricket Australia could be managing Green’s workload or recovery, which aligns with their broader approach towards key fast-bowling and all-round resources. Several Australian players — including Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood — are also being carefully managed at the start of IPL 2026 due to workload concerns and injury histories.
KKR appear to be taking a cautious route with Green, especially early in the tournament.
ALSO READ: Latest Ajinkya Rahane injury update after MI vs KKR
Is Cameron Green Injured Or Fully Fit?
The natural follow-up question is: is Cameron Green injured or just being managed?
Interestingly, there were clear signs that Cameron Green bowling isn’t completely off the table. During KKR’s training session two days before the opener, Green spent close to 40 minutes bowling at full intensity to Tim Seifert. He began the session with the ball, hit his strides at full pace, and only then moved on to batting after a short break. He didn’t bowl during the KKR practice match before IPL 2026, although he made a fifty while batting.
That said, his recent workload tells a different story. Green has bowled just 7.1 overs across his last eight matches, which points more towards careful workload management than a fresh injury concern.
There is no official confirmation of a fresh injury, but there are enough signs to suggest he is not yet fully ready to bowl in matches.
- Green was seen bowling in pre-season nets, but with a shortened run-up
- He looked comfortable while batting and fielding during the MI vs KKR game
- However, he was not used with the ball at all, even under pressure
This raises doubts around is Cameron Green fit to bowl at full intensity. It is likely that KKR are waiting for clearance before using him as a complete all-round option.
Rahane also indicated that the team expects a change in balance once Green resumes bowling duties.
“I think when Green starts to bowl soon, the combination will slightly be different… hopefully, Green starts to bowl soon,” he added.
KKR Balance Affected Without Cameron Green Bowling
The absence of Cameron Green bowling had a clear impact on KKR’s bowling strategy in the MI vs KKR clash. Key pacers have all been a concern for KKR: Harshit Rana injured, Akash Deep is ruled out, and Matheesha Pathirana comeback is delayed. With Green also down, KKR are forced to rethink their strategy with the ball.
KKR lacked a reliable seam-bowling option to complement their attack as Mumbai Indians chased down 221 comfortably in 19.1 overs. Rohit Sharma (78 off 38) and Ryan Rickelton (81 off 43) dominated the powerplay, putting immense pressure on KKR’s bowlers.
Green, who was brought in as a like-for-like replacement for Andre Russell, was expected to provide that additional bowling cushion. Without him, KKR were forced to rely heavily on their frontline bowlers, who struggled to contain the scoring. For now, Cameron Green is effectively playing as a specialist batter.
He contributed 18 runs in the MI vs KKR game, but his inability to bowl remains a key talking point, especially given his price tag of ₹25.20 crore.
KKR will be hoping that this is only a temporary phase. Once Cameron Green bowling becomes an option again, it will significantly improve the team’s balance and flexibility.
What Next For KKR And Cameron Green?
The situation appears to be precautionary rather than alarming.
Given Cricket Australia’s cautious approach with its players and the long season ahead, KKR are unlikely to rush Green back into bowling duties. However, his full value as an all-rounder will only be realised once he contributes with both bat and ball.
For now, the answer to Why Is Cameron Green Not Bowling For KKR lies in a mix of workload management and possible minor fitness concerns, something that KKR will hope gets resolved soon as IPL 2026 progresses.
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