KKR fully aware of Green’s bowling unavailability: CA
Cricket Australia on Monday said the Kolkata Knight Riders’ management is “fully aware” of Cameron Green’s injury status after the team’s captain Ajinkya Rahane created a flutter by stating that only the all-rounder’s home board knew why he could not bowl in their IPL opener against Mumbai Indians.
Rahane deflected queries on Green’s absence as a bowler in Mumbai last night by saying, “Ask Cricket Australia,” triggering a mild controversy on the player’s current fitness status.
“Cameron has a lower back injury which is being managed but requires him to abstain from bowling for a short period,” a CA spokesperson told PTI.
“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.”
Green did not bowl competitively for nearly 12 months — from September 2024 to October 2025 — after undergoing surgery for a stress fracture in his back and even after that period, his contributions with the ball have been minimal.
Green’s last competitive outing with the ball came in the T20 World Cup against Oman on February 20 earlier this year at Pallekele, where he bowled just two overs.
Overall, Green just bowled 19 deliveries during the showpiece and took one wicket (against Zimbabwe).
KKR had gone all out at the IPL mini auction to secure the Australian for a whopping Rs 25.20 crore, making him the costliest overseas buy.
The franchise is already without key pacers — Matheesha Pathirana, Harshit Rana, Akash Deep and Mustafizur Rahman.
While Mustafizur was removed from the KKR roster on BCCI’s directive amid political tensions with Bangladesh, Harshit and Akash Deep were ruled out due to injuries.
‘Slinger’ Pathirana, another high-profile acquisition, is also recovering from a niggle and yet to join the squad.
With Green also not being utilised with the bowl in their IPL opener against Mumbai Indians, KKR faced a severe pace-bowling crisis in their lung-opener despite defending a tall 220.
They were forced to rely on Vaibhav Arora and debutant Blessing Muzarabani, who replaced Mustafizur, to share.
