Cameron Green controversy explodes [Source: AP Photos]After Ajinkya Rahane took a dig at Cricket Australia over limiting Cameron Green from bowling, coach Andrew McDonald weighed in on the matter and backed the all-rounder amid high expectations.Green is being paid ₹25.20 crore by KKR this year, and fans expect him to be a true all-rounder. However, in the Knight Riders' opening clash against the Mumbai Indians, the Aussie didn’t bowl a single over.This triggered a cryptic response from captain Ajinkya Rahane, who blamed Cricket Australia for not allowing Cameron Green to bowl.Andrew McDonald backs Cameron GreenAmid this debate, Australia coach Andrew McDonald came out in support of Cameron Green. Talking to SEN Radio, he said Green has to manage expectations of being an all-format all-rounder for Australia and also his IPL team."There's huge expectation within the IPL, and there's huge expectation with any all-rounder that shapes an Australian team. It's not unfair, but there is an expectation around all-rounders that they contribute in a certain way," McDonald said.He explained that all-rounders always carry harsh expectations, and in this day and age, the workload is extremely demanding. For Green, the situation is also tricky as he gets injured a lot."It's almost like they want them to average 45 with the bat and average less than 30 with the ball. And there's been very few that do that. I'm sure that his career will trend upwards. We know he's good enough. He's just got to balance out all those expectations, and in particular, playing all three formats, which is a significant challenge for any cricketer," he added.Regardless, McDonald made it clear that Cameron Green is still seen as a future all-format star for Australia and hence, CA are cautious with his workload.Also Read - A 25.20 Crore Fumble? Will Cameron Green’s IPL 2026 Price Give KKR A HeadacheWhen can Cameron Green start bowling?Interestingly, after Ajinkya Rahane took a dig, Cricket Australia issued an official statement regarding Green's availability as an all-rounder. CA said Cameron Green is managing a back niggle.As a result, he has been advised to avoid bowling for 10-12 days. Interestingly, the Australian board made it absolutely clear that KKR had prior knowledge of this restriction. So, there’s no conflict, but rather workload management. For now, KKR has to settle with having Green as a pure batter. This will hurt them as their fast bowling depth has depleted after Harshit Rana and Matheesha Pathirana’s injuries.KKR off to a losing start to IPL 2026On the field, KKR endured a disappointing start to the IPL 2026 season as they lost to the Mumbai Indians in a high-scoring contest. Batting first, Ajinkya Rahane, Finn Allen and Angkrish Raghuvanshi contributed to KKR’s 220-run total, which appeared strong.However, the Mumbai Indians had other plans. Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton knitted a 148-run opening stand, and the rest of the chase turned out to be a cakewalk. With no pressure applied in the middle or death overs, KKR ended up conceding 224 in just 19.1 overs, turning what should have been a winning performance into a frustrating loss.Also Read - Flying Glenn Phillips Catch Off Shubman Gill Recalled As Duo Unite At Gujarat Titans
