25.2 Crore Wasted On Cameron Green: Why KKR Must Drop Him From IPL 2026 Playing XI

Why KKR must drop Cameron Green in IPL XI [Source: AFP]

KKR team management had a lot of optimism when they roped in Australian all-rounder Cameron Green for a whopping 25.2 crores in the IPL 2026 mini auction, but that optimism soon turned into disarray as three games into the new IPL campaign and Green has failed to deliver the goods for the Knight Riders.

Green was supposed to fill in the big shoes of Andre Russell, who retired from the IPL after last season. However, the all-rounder has found it hard to justify his hefty price tag as bowlers have found it easy to dismiss him in all three IPL matches.

With quality overseas players warming the bench, perhaps the time has come for KKR to take the harsh call and drop Green from their playing XI. Moreover, here are 3 solid reasons to justify this decision.

1) Three IPL matches, three failures with the bat

Bought for a huge price, KKR expected Green to score runs in the IPL matches, but three games in, his scores read: 18, 2, and 4. Just 24 runs in three matches, with an average of 8, define his IPL 2026 journey.

Cameron Green might be a youngster, but he has enough T20I and IPL experience, and despite boasting all the skillset, the batter couldn’t deliver in his first three IPL matches for KKR.

The KKR management invested heavily in Green in the mini auction, but with no return on offer, the team might take a harsh call by dropping him.

Also Read: Cameron Green IPL 2026 Bowling Availability Confirmed By KKR Coach

2) Green not bowling not helping KKR's cause

The reason KKR spent 25.2 crores on Green was due to his all-around abilities, but in the first three matches, the Aussie player has yet to deliver a single ball. There was a reason the franchise went so hard to acquire his services, and it was because Green could offer them a dual role: With the bat and with the ball.

However, Cricket Australia has not given him the clearance to bowl in the IPL, and that has hampered KKR’s season so far. He was bought in as an all-rounder, but the IPL has yet to see his all-round capabilities in the tournament.

With Green not bowling, KKR has had to rely on other options in the bowling department, and that experiment has failed.

3) Tim Seifert waiting in the wings to play

KKR bought Tim Seifert in the mini auction, and so far, he has only warmed the bench in the first three IPL games. The Kiwi batter was in red-hot form in the T20 World Cup, and yet, he has yet to play a single game for the Knight Riders.

(Tim Seifert in T20 WC 2026)

In this format, Seifert is a much better player, and his inclusion would allow KKR to field Finn Allen, and him as the opening pair, with Rahane going down at number 3. Moreover, with Green not bowling his full quota of 4 overs, there is no point of keeping him in the playing XI.

Instead, the franchise can upgrade its playing XI by including Seifert in the main XI, as he can play aggressively for them, a trait that Green misses.

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