Gavaskar Urges KKR to Drop Non-Bowling Green for Specialist Batter

After KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane and former India opener Wasim Jaffer, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has weighed in on the issue, advising KKR to consider bringing in another specialist to make up for the imbalance in the squad.

Green, who was signed for Rs 25.20 crore for his all-round capabilities, has yet to bowl in the tournament, including in the opening clash against the Mumbai Indians (MI), where his side conceded a hefty 221 runs, and their second match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), where they conceded 226 runs. His limited role has sparked debate over team balance and utilisation.

Speaking on Star Sports' 'Amul Cricket Live', JioStar experts Sunil Gavaskar discussed Green's role in the team and said they should consider recruiting a specialist to make up for the loss.

"KKR will need to think about their combination if Cameron Green is not going to bowl. If he isn't contributing with the ball, then they might have to consider bringing in another specialist batter. We know he has scored a hundred in the IPL and that he can bat well, but his form hasn't been great recently.

"Yes, he scored a hundred in a red-ball game in Australia not long ago, but this is where the team needs to look closely at the numbers. Green at No. 4 is fine, but the bigger concern seems to be the No. 5 and No. 6 positions, where they appear to be struggling a bit," said Gavaskar.

Jaffer took to X to voice his opinion on the matter, stressing that franchises should have full control over how players are used once they are part of a privately run competition.

"Cam Green not bowling is unfair for KKR. Once you're playing in a private league, it shouldn't be your country that decides what you can and cannot do during that league. If that's the case, you might as well not play. Teams pay huge amounts to acquire players with certain skill sets, and not using one of the skill sets, not because of injury, but because of workload management, is unfair to the franchise," he wrote.

Earlier, speaking after the Mumbai match, captain Ajinkya Rahane suggested that decisions regarding Green's bowling were influenced by Cricket Australia, indicating that the matter was not entirely in the team's hands.

Cricket Australia later confirmed that Green's workload is being carefully managed due to a lower back concern, with the franchise reportedly informed about the restriction ahead of the tournament.

Despite not bowling in matches so far, Green has been seen bowling during practice sessions, hinting at a possible return to full all-round duties as his recovery progresses.

Green's outing with the bat has also not been up to the mark in the ongoing season. He scored just 18 runs in KKR's first match against Mumbai and got run out at a crucial time against SRH after scoring only two runs. Due to his poor batting, KKR has lost both matches and currently sit in ninth position in the points table.

- IANS