NEW DELHI: Cameron Green’s tough stretch with the bat has followed him from the IPL into international cricket, with the Australian all-rounder dismissed for a duck in the first match of a three-game ODI series against Pakistan. The setback came in the opening ODI, as questions around his form resurfaced after an underwhelming season in franchise cricket.
Green had been snapped up by Kolkata Knight Riders for a record-breaking fee of Rs 25.20 crore at the IPL 2026 auction, which made him the priciest overseas player in IPL history. Yet, the blockbuster purchase did not bring the impact KKR would have expected, and his batting returns failed to match the expectations that came with such a high price tag.
The same lean narrative continued at Rawalpindi, where Pakistan’s young debutant Arafat Minhas delivered a statement start to his ODI career. Minhas produced a five-wicket haul on debut, including the dismissal of Green, who fell without contributing meaningfully to the scoreboard.
Minhas struck early with a ball that was fractionally short on leg stump and turned sharply away. Green stayed deep in his crease but could not read the movement in time. The delivery beat his bat and thudded into the top of the off stump, ending his innings immediately.
Green’s IPL stint with KKR also failed to fully click. Over 14 matches, he scored 322 runs at a strike rate of 145.70. While he did provide a few valuable cameos, he was not able to deliver performances consistently enough to justify the record fee.
Despite the recent setbacks, Green remains the highest-paid overseas player in IPL history. Rishabh Pant holds the overall record for the most expensive IPL buy, after Lucknow Super Giants acquired him for Rs 27 crore at the IPL 2025 auction.
KKR’s season broadly mirrored Green’s struggles. The three-time champions did not reach the playoffs, finishing seventh in the table with a record of six wins, seven losses, and one no-result from their 14 league matches under captain Ajinkya Rahane.
The campaign began poorly as defeats to Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad highlighted flaws in both batting and bowling. KKR did manage standout wins against Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, and Mumbai Indians, but their inability to string results together became their defining issue.
A Super Over win against Lucknow Super Giants offered a brief lift to their playoff hopes. However, later losses proved decisive. A six-wicket defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru further dented their chances, and a 40-run loss to Delhi Capitals in their final league game effectively captured the frustration of a season that was often defined by missed opportunities and inconsistency.
