Ajinkya Rahane Takes Subtle Dig at Cricket Australia When Quizzed About Cameroon Green Not Bowling in KKR’s IPL Opener

In batting, Cameron Green could only manage 18 runs off 10 balls, but forged a much-needed 40-run stand with KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane.

Ajinkya Rahane Takes Subtle Dig at Cricket Australia When Quizzed About Cameroon Green Not Bowling in KKR’s IPL Opener

Ajinkya Rahane directed a question on Cameron Green not bowling against MI, towards Cricket Australia. (via News 18)

In Short
  • Ajinkya Rahane criticized Cricket Australia for Cameron Green not bowling in KKR's IPL opener.
  • Cameron Green is managing a lower back injury and will not bowl for 10 to 12 days.
  • Rahane suffered cramps during the match but confirmed he will be available for upcoming games.

The decision to keep Australian all-rounder Cameron Green out of bowling during Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL 2026 opener against the Mumbai Indians has caused some contention. KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane weighed in with a subtle criticism of Cricket Australia (CA).

KKR has been one of the teams in IPL 2026 that has faced a severe injury crisis, having lost several key fast bowlers. After Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman was released from the squad, Harshit Rana and Akash Deep followed, with the duo being ruled out due to injuries. Sri Lankan star Matheesha Pathirana is currently recovering from a niggle, and is yet to receive clearance from his country’s cricketing board. 

As a result, KKR had to rely on less experienced options in their season opener against MI at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. They failed to defend the 221-run target, to lose the match by six wickets.

The KKR bowling attack looked toothless, with MI openers Rohit Sharma (78) and Ryan Rickelton (81) putting on a record 148-run stand in just 11.5 overs. Collectively, they only managed to take three wickets, with every bowler conceding more than ten runs per over. 

Interestingly, KKR’s INR 25.2 crore star signing Cameron Green did not bowl an over throughout the game, even at a time when his team needed a change of pace. After the match, KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane was asked by Ian Bishop about why the 26-year-old was not handed the ball. Rahane responded with a sarcastic remark, suggesting that Cricket Australia should be questioned about it instead.

Ask Cricket Australia… I think when hopefully [Cameron] Green starts to bowl soon, the combination will be slightly different.

Ajinkya Rahane on the Australian all-rounder (H/T Crictracker)

Furthermore, he addressed concerns over KKR’s lack of a settled bowling combination, exclaiming that it would only be possible once the Australian all-rounder starts to bowl. Rahane’s remark about Green not bowling during the match, drew a sharp response from CA.

A Cricket Australia spokesperson confirmed that the all-rounder was managing a lower back injury and would abstain from bowling for around 10 to 12 days, and that KKR had been fully ‘aware’. 

Interestingly, Green had even registered in the 2026 IPL auction as a specialist batter, which was later clarified as a ‘clerical’ error. The 26-year-old, however, has not bowled much over the past two years, ever since he underwent surgery for a stress fracture in his back. 

KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane confirms cramps, allays injury fears After limping off the pitch

Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane discussed the extent of his injury, which forced him to limp off the pitch during the team’s IPL 2026 opener against Mumbai Indians. Rahane suffered cramps and could not return to the field for most of the second innings.

Ajinkya Rahane cramps
Ajinkya Rahane limped off the ground after suffered cramps, during KKR vs. MI. (via X)

The 37-year-old collapsed on the field before the start of the fifth over, grasping his legs in pain. He even received some treatment on the ground by the KKR physio, who assessed the injury. After Rahane lay on the ground for a few minutes, it became clear he could not continue. Teammates helped the KKR captain stand up, and he initially limped off the pitch supported by two players, before walking off unaided. 

Speaking after the match, Rahane clarified that he suffered cramps in both his calves, and that made it impossible for him to continue fielding. Despite fears that the veteran might have suffered a hamstring injury, he came out to confirm his availability for the next matches. With Rahane off the pitch, it was Rinku Singh who captained the team, as he saw KKR lose in the end by six wickets. 

Feeling okay, just a lot of cramps to my calf, and both the calves actually. So hopefully I’ll be okay. I mean, just a lot of cramps.

Ajinkya Rahane on his injury (H/T NDTV Sports)

With the bat, the Mumbai-born player was remarkable, as he opened the innings for the first time with New Zealand’s Finn Allen. The duo stitched a 69-run partnership, with Ajinkya Rahane scoring 67 runs off 40 balls with the help of three fours and five sixes. It remains to be seen if the team can find the win column in their next game.

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