Kolkata Knight Riders’ struggles in IPL 2026 have put the spotlight back on Cameron Green, whose stunning returns continue to raise questions about his role in the side.The Australian all-rounder, who has yet to be cleared to bowl this season, failed to make an impact with the bat. In three matches, Green managed just 24 runs, with his last outing against the Punjab Kings at the Eden Gardens ending in disappointment as he scored just four runs off two balls. With it unclear when he will resume bowling, the scrutiny over his place in the playing XI has only intensified.
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Greenstone Lobo predicts IPL 2026 winner While Green has been steadily building his workload in the nets, several experts believe that his current role as a specialist hitter is not warranted, especially in a high-pressure position like No. 3.During the rain in KKR’s match against Punjab Kings, former England captain Kevin Pietersen openly questioned the decision to stick with Green in such a pivotal role.“I’m against talking about money because money is something that just happens. These guys don’t make as much money as some other sportsmen around the world. But obviously a lot of people like to talk about what I like to talk about, which is cricketing ability. And whether you’re good enough to be in a position of power and batting 3 in an IPL team, you have to be able to be at that level.“And I don’t think he’s good enough to bat at No.3. He doesn’t bowl, so you can look at what he’s done. Yeah, I’ve seen him, he got 100 in Mumbai a couple of years ago. I haven’t seen enough of Cam Green to bat at No.3 here and take that responsibility.”With similar concerns, former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar pointed to a wider problem with the team’s composition, particularly when it comes to overseas slots.“You have to think about specialists. If you think about Rachindra Ravindra and Cameron Green, they’re not necessarily proven T20 players, and when you’re picking overseas players, they have to be specialists because there’s only four spots available. So, when you look at who’s the ideal player, if Cameron Green doesn’t bowl, then he doesn’t fit into the batsman category and Banasse, you know, just,” he said.“So you could also think of Rovman Powell, who is a proven T20 specialist who bats and does a very specialist job. So I like Powell for being a specialist, doing a role and being a proven commodity, rather than hoping someone comes good,” he added.KKR were a bit lucky to escape with a point in their rain-hit encounter against Punjab Kings. By the time play was stopped, they were struggling at 25/2 in 3.4 overs after electing to bat first, with Green’s early dismissal adding to their woes.As the season continues, KKR face a crucial challenge – whether to stick with Green in the hope that he regains form and fitness, or reassess their combination in a campaign that is already beginning to wane.
