When it comes to big-money buys, KKR hasn’t always had the best of returns. Yes, they shelled out Rs. 24.75 crore for Mitchell Starc during the IPL 2024 auction, and he did deliver them the title, but struggled initially. Venkatesh Iyer felt the pressure of the price tag last season while wearing purple and gold last year, scoring 142 runs in 11 matches and was released. Will the same happen to Cameron Green?
The Australian all-rounder has been bought by Kolkata for a record-breaking Rs. 25.2 crore, but he hasn’t enjoyed the best of form recently. He has scored 117 runs in seven T20Is this year and has bowled just 7.1 overs for two wickets. So will he be weighed down by the price tag pressure? Well, KKR assistant coach Shane Watson doesn’t feel so.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference before the MI clash, Watson said that he doesn’t feel the all-rounder will get suffocated by the pressure of the money paid for him and pointed out that he performed for MI and RCB in the past despite his price tag.
“I’ve seen players in the past who’ve had a high price tag on them. I’ve seen them crumble in the past, that wave of expectations really suffocated their ability to perform at their best,” Watson told reporters.
“Cameron certainly doesn’t see it that way. We’ve seen with him when he got picked up to play here at MI a couple of years ago for a pretty decent amount of money, he had a very good season.”
Green was bought first by MI for Rs. 17.5 crore in 2023 and then traded to RCB for the same amount the following year. Since then, he has scored 707 runs in 29 matches and has picked up 16 wickets.
‘NOTHING TO LOSE’
Watson said that Green plays with a nothing to lose attitude when it comes to the IPL, which will keep him in good stead coming into the tournament.
“That is his mindset when it comes to the IPL, that he’s got nothing to lose,” said Watson.
KKR will start their IPL 2026 campaign against MI on Sunday, March 29.
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