Cameron Green Edges Closer to Bowling Return for Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder Cameron Green has taken a significant step towards resuming his bowling duties in the IPL 2026 season. Bowling coach Tim Southee confirmed on Sunday that Green has been actively bowling in the nets and is progressing well in his rehabilitation, potentially making him available as a bowling option in upcoming matches.
Recovery from Back Surgery Under Close Monitoring
Green, who was acquired by KKR for a staggering Rs 25.20 crore, has not bowled in any matches this IPL season so far. This cautious approach stems from Cricket Australia's ongoing monitoring of his workload following a recent back surgery. The franchise has been in regular communication with Cricket Australia to ensure his recovery aligns with the planned schedule.
KKR shared a video on April 1 showcasing Green's bowling action, hinting at his imminent return. Southee elaborated, "Yeah, Green's been bowling well, tracking his rehab and getting himself back to being able to bowl in games. He'll continue to do that." However, he is unlikely to feature as a bowler in Monday's match against Punjab Kings, despite being seen bowling at full intensity during a practice session on Saturday.
KKR's Bowling Challenges and Team Dynamics
The team's pace attack has faced scrutiny due to the absence of key bowlers like Mustafizur Rahman, Harshit Rana, Akash Deep, and Matheesha Pathirana. Green's inability to bowl has added to these concerns, especially after KKR failed to defend a total of 220 runs in their opening loss to Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium.
When questioned about Green not bowling, captain Ajinkya Rahane had previously remarked, "Ask Cricket Australia," prompting the board to clarify that KKR was fully aware of his recovery plan. Southee reassured that the franchise maintains consistent contact with Cricket Australia regarding Green's progress, stating, "We're in regular contact with Cricket Australia and I'm sure we'll see Cameron bowling soon. I'm sure he's not far away from bowling in a match."
Team Performance and Future Prospects
KKR has endured a challenging start to the season, losing both of their matches, including a 65-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 2. Their pace attack is still in the process of settling, with replacement player Blessing Muzarabani making an impact by taking 4/41, while Vaibhav Arora and Kartik Tyagi have contributed with crucial wickets. Spin bowlers Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy are yet to find their rhythm.
Southee emphasized the importance of taking early wickets, noting, "It's always hard when you're not taking wickets, particularly in the powerplay. Taking wickets early stems the run flow and makes things easier. We haven't quite managed to do that so far, but we’ll plan accordingly and hopefully take those early wickets."
He also addressed team selection queries, with players like Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra, and Rovman Powell awaiting their chance. Southee explained, "I think you look at all the squads, there's so many good players to choose from. There are discussions around what side best matches up against the opposition and conditions. There's so much talent that it's hard to get the perfect equilibrium. But it's the side we thought was best for the first two games. We'll plan for what we're going to come up against and pick the team that gives us the best chance."
Training Disruptions and Player Updates
KKR's training session on Sunday at Eden Gardens was disrupted by rain, leading most senior players to skip the outdoor drills. However, some domestic players, including Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Rahul Tripathi, managed to train indoors. Despite the setbacks, Southee expressed optimism about the bowling group's potential, saying, "It's certainly a long tournament, two games in. With the setbacks with the bowlers we've been unable to have, it presents opportunities for other guys. We're still excited about the bowling group we've got. They're inexperienced but they've got a tremendous amount of skill. We've seen it in glimpses in the first two games. It's our job to get a little bit more consistency out of them."
He concluded with confidence in the team's abilities, "Although the first two games haven't gone to plan, I'm sure they will show how skilful and how good they can be at this level throughout the tournament."
