Mumbai, April 3 (NationPress) The situation surrounding Cameron Green's inability to bowl for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), due to workload management directives from Cricket Australia, is escalating into a significant controversy during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. This issue has drawn comments from numerous former players of India.

Following remarks from KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane and ex-India opener Wasim Jaffer, cricketing icon Sunil Gavaskar has also expressed his views, suggesting that KKR should contemplate introducing another specialist batter to address the team’s imbalance.

Green, who was acquired for a staggering Rs 25.20 crore due to his all-round prowess, has yet to bowl in the tournament, including the opening match against the Mumbai Indians (MI), where KKR conceded a substantial 221 runs, and their second game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), where they allowed 226 runs. His minimal involvement has ignited discussions on the team's balance and the effective use of players.

On Star Sports’ ‘Amul Cricket Live’, expert Sunil Gavaskar analyzed Green’s position in the squad, recommending that they should recruit a specialist to compensate for his absence in bowling duties.

“KKR must reevaluate their combination if Cameron Green is not going to bowl. If he isn’t contributing with the ball, then they may need to look for another specialist batter. While he has a hundred in the IPL, his recent form has been underwhelming. He did score a century in a red-ball match in Australia recently, but it’s vital for the team to analyze the statistics closely. Green batting at No. 4 is acceptable, but the critical concern seems to be the No. 5 and No. 6 slots, which appear problematic,” Gavaskar stated.

Jaffer took to X to express his thoughts on the subject, emphasizing that franchises should maintain complete authority over player usage once they enter a privately-operated league.

“Cameron Green not bowling is unfair to KKR. Once you participate in a private league, your country shouldn’t dictate your engagement during that league. If that’s the case, there’s no point in playing. Teams invest heavily to acquire players with specific skill sets, and not leveraging one of those skills due to workload management, rather than injury, is unjust to the franchise,” he remarked.

Earlier, after the match against Mumbai, captain Ajinkya Rahane implied that Cricket Australia was influencing the decisions regarding Green’s bowling, suggesting that the matter is not solely under the team's control.

Cricket Australia later confirmed that Green's workload is being meticulously managed due to a lower back issue, with the franchise reportedly made aware of these restrictions prior to the tournament.

Although Green has not bowled in any matches yet, he has been seen practicing bowling, indicating a potential return to full all-rounder responsibilities as he recovers.

Green's batting performance has also been lackluster in this season. He managed only 18 runs in KKR's first match against Mumbai and was run out at a critical juncture against SRH after scoring just two runs. Due to his disappointing batting, KKR has lost both matches and currently finds itself in ninth place on the points table.