Kolkata Knight Riders’ Concerns Over Cameron Green’s Form
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are reportedly feeling the pressure as star import Cameron Green continues to struggle with his form in the Indian Premier League (IPL). According to former Australian opener Aaron Finch, there is a growing sense of panic within the team about Green’s performance.
Green has only managed scores of 18, 2, and 4 in three matches so far this season, and he hasn’t bowled at all. He was acquired by KKR for a staggering $4.2 million at the IPL auction, making him the most expensive overseas player in the history of the tournament.
In his first match against the Mumbai Indians, Green scored 18 off just 10 balls after Finn Allen and Ajinkya Rahane provided a strong start for the Knight Riders. However, his performance in the following matches has been disappointing.
In the second match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Green was run out for 2 runs by teammate Angkrish Raghuvanshi.
Then, in the third match against the Punjab Kings, Green was caught behind on the second ball of his innings by countryman Xavier Bartlett.
Speaking on ESPN, Finch expressed concerns about the situation, stating that there is “a bit of panic” within KKR. However, he emphasized that the team should continue to support Green and find ways to solidify his position in the batting order.
“One of those dismissals has been a run out, which wasn’t entirely his fault,” Finch said. “Still, he’s missed out twice. There’s a bit of panic, and he’s not looking the same as before. When he was at the top of the order for Mumbai, he had a completely different intent.”
Finch highlighted that in 2023, when Green was batting at No. 3, he scored 452 runs in 16 innings with a strike rate of 160.28 and an average of 50.22. He was imposing at the crease during that time. Now, Green appears more tentative.
“Don’t push him down. Push him either up the order or give him a rest,” Finch advised.
Green’s Performance Under Scrutiny
Green’s form with the bat has been under the microscope for months. In the Ashes series, he scored 171 runs from eight innings at an average of 24.42, with a highest score of 45 in Brisbane. Even that average was somewhat aided by a 22-not-out in the fifth Test in Sydney.
With the ball, Green took only 4 wickets for 283 runs in 61.5 overs across the series. His performance has not met expectations, and questions about his form continue to linger.
Finch also pointed out that circumstances beyond Green’s control may be affecting his performance. He criticized the decision by KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane to bat first against the Kings. The pitch had been covered for much of the 24 hours leading up to the match due to rain. When the rain cleared enough for the match to start, the pitch still had moisture that favored seam bowlers.
KKR were 2-25 in the fourth over when the rain returned, and the match was eventually abandoned.
“Winning the toss and electing to bat after the wicket’s been under the covers for a day, you know there’s been rain in the air, it makes absolutely no sense,” Finch said. “That’s an alarm bell for me. It’s not that they’re two down for 25. It’s the fact that ‘we shouldn’t be batting’. You’re making the wrong decision even when you’ve got all the information.”
Finch added, “There’s cloud cover around. You’re expecting rain. They had three hours of rain. Obviously, somebody has told them at some point – ‘it might rain later’ – you might need to chase later. DLS works better for the team batting second a little better. You’ve got all that information, so I don’t understand how you get to the decision.”
