New Delhi, Dec 16 (NationPress) Former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble has expressed his desire to see Cameron Green take on the role of an opener for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) following his record-setting acquisition at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini-auction. Green has become the third most expensive overseas player in the tournament's history.

Making his IPL debut in the 2023 season, Green was acquired by the Mumbai Indians (MI) for Rs 17.5 crore, making him the second-most expensive overseas player ever and the priciest Australian player in IPL auctions.

In the recent IPL 2024 season, he played for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after being traded from MI, scoring 255 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 143.25, along with 10 wickets in 13 matches at an economy rate of 8.61.

Kumble stated, “I would like to see him occupy the opening position for KKR. They already have a competent finisher lineup, including players like Rinku Singh. I believe they did not maximize their resources last season. When they won the trophy, their lineup was comparable. Sure, Shreyas Iyer, the captain, was absent, and key fast bowler Mitchell Starc was also missing. Yet, considering their batting depth with players like Ramandeep Singh, Rovman Powell, and Rinku Singh, they have capable and seasoned batters for the No. 5, No. 6, and finisher roles. Thus, I don't think they need Cameron Green for that function. I would prefer to see him at the top of the order, either as an opener or at No. 3, depending on where Ajinkya Rahane is placed. Sunil Narine could drop down to No. 6 or 7 or even act as a floater,” Kumble shared with JioStar.

However, under the new “maximum fee” rule, the Australian all-rounder will receive only Rs 18 crore. This regulation was introduced last year to address concerns from franchises about overseas players exploiting the supply-demand imbalance at mini auctions.

According to this rule, overseas players cannot be compensated more than Rs 18 crore, the highest tier for franchises retaining players ahead of the 2025 mega auction. If bids surpass this amount, the excess funds will be allocated by the BCCI for player welfare.

South African cricketer David Miller was acquired by the Delhi Capitals for a base price of Rs 2 crore. Kumble commented on Miller's sale, emphasizing that his experience will be a significant asset for the team.

“Experience is something that the Delhi Capitals lacked last season. Although their uncapped players performed commendably — particularly Ashutosh Sharma and Vipraj Nigam — incorporating someone with David Miller’s level of experience is a tremendous advantage. Pairing him with Tristan Stubbs, his South African colleague, greatly reinforces the middle order. At that price, it’s an absolute bargain for Delhi Capitals. I expected the Gujarat Titans to bring him back, but they seem to prefer Washington Sundar for that position. Overall, it’s an astute decision by the Delhi Capitals to add experience — something they were sorely missing last season.”