New Delhi, Dec 21 (NationPress) The head coach of Kolkata Knight Riders, Abhishek Nayar, has staunchly defended the franchise’s groundbreaking acquisition of Australian all-rounder Cameron Green. He views Green as a pivotal long-term asset to propel the three-time IPL champions forward after the retirement of Andre Russell.

Green became the standout signing of the IPL 2026 auction held in Abu Dhabi last week, with KKR securing him for a record-breaking Rs 25.20 crore, making him the most expensive overseas player in IPL history and the third-costliest overall after Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer.

Discussing the franchise’s bold strategy at the auction, Nayar shared with JioStar that KKR was committed to acquiring Green, disregarding the hefty price tag. He stated, “I can’t quantify how high we were prepared to go for him, but we wanted to go all out. If we have the funds, we utilize them. There was no sense in holding back. Our goal was to secure Green because he is a crucial player for us. With Andre Russell retiring, we need someone to carry the franchise forward. Hence, we resolved to acquire Cameron Green.”

Nayar also emphasized that KKR envisions Green as a vital top-order batsman who can consistently perform throughout the season. “We anticipate Cameron Green to bat in the top three. He’s a player capable of accumulating 500 runs for us. That’s why we were so eager to sign him. We recognize his potential. He has previously surpassed 500 runs in the IPL, so he can excel in the top order. He addresses various challenges for us,” he elaborated.

The head coach underscored the significance of top-order contributions in KKR’s historical achievements. “In recent years, our success was linked to our top three players amassing over 400 runs. We hope that he can deliver substantial runs for us.”

Nayar also touched upon KKR’s unsuccessful endeavor to reacquire Venkatesh Iyer, who was picked up by Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the auction. He commented, “Venkatesh Iyer has been a key player for us since the start. We sought to bring him back. We believed other teams were conserving funds for different players, so we thought we could acquire him at a lower price. He is experienced and aligns well with our setup, providing us with flexibility.”

However, he acknowledged the fierce competition posed by rival franchises during the bidding. “We made efforts, but RCB consistently targets our players. This year, they managed to secure him. Venkatesh has been outstanding for us over the years, and I wish him all the best in his new IPL adventure.”