Cameron Green’s lean run of form in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has continued overnight on Wednesday as his team sits on the bottom of the table.
The Chennai Super Kings claimed a 32-run victory over Green’s Kolkata Knight Riders, with the Australian all-rounder struggling with bat and ball.
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Five-time winners Chennai posted 5/192, riding on knocks from Sanju Samson, who hit 48, and Dewald Brevis (41) after being invited to bat first at their home M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.
Green was the most expensive of Kolkata’s bowlers with figures of 0/30 from two overs.
It didn’t get much better with the bat for the Aussie as Chennai’s Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad turned on the heat with his left-arm wrist spin to keep Kolkata down to 7/160 in reply as they remain winless in their five outings.
Green was out for a golden duck, clean bowled by Noor. He cut a forlorn figure as he walked back to the pavilion, joining Ajinkya Rahane who was dismissed by Noor on the previous delivery.
The commentator said the Australian “had no clue whatsoever” about Noor’s delivery.
Rinku Singh did not last long and was caught out at long-on for six as Kolkata slipped to 6/90.
Rovman Powell, who hit an unbeaten 31, and Ramandeep Singh (35) attempted to revive the chase but could never keep up with the asking rate.
“We just have to keep that head up and just be positive and have that self-belief,” said Rahane.
Earlier, Samson, who hit a century in the previous match, kept up his form to hand the team a quick start in his 32-ball knock laced with four fours and three sixes.
Ayush Mhatre’s 17-ball 38 and crucial runs by Brevis and Sarfaraz Khan (23) allowed Chennai to post a challenging total despite tidy bowling by Kolkata at the back-end.
Pressure is mounting on Green to live up to his hefty price tag.
Fox Sports News’ TV report said: “Cam Green’s $4 million move to the Kolkata Knight Riders is fast becoming quite the expensive mistake.”
The 26-year-old became the highest-paid international player in IPL history late last year when KKR paid $4.17 million for him at the auction, although under new regulations salaries for foreign players are capped at around $3 million.
Green has scored 56 runs from five games so far at an average of 14.00, facing just 39 balls, with a high score of 32. He has scores of 19, 2, 4, 32, and 0.
In 2024, he scored 255 runs at 31.88 and in 2023, he smashed 452 runs at an average of 50.22 including an unbeaten century.
Some cold hearted cricket fans claimed on social media that KKR “got scammed” by Green.
For the first time in IPL history, Kolkata Knight Riders are winless after the first five matches of the season.
Given the importance of all-rounders in T20 cricket, eyebrows were raised early in the tournament when Green did not bowl for KKR for three matches as he managed a back injury.
Before the game against Chennai, Green said: “Body’s really good. I think obviously with bowling, there’s nothing like match practice. So hopefully I’m better for it, and I’ll be able to bowl four overs this game, which is good.”
Green was moved down the order to No. 6, and his low output will heighten scrutiny on his value and his spot in the team. But he has the support of his coach.
“The idea of picking a player in an auction is not always very shortsighted,” KKR coach Abhishek Nayar said.
“We as a franchise always invest in the player and what the player at his best can bring to our table, and we know what Cam Green can do.”
– With AFP
