Cameron Green cleared to bowl as KKR seek first win of IPL 2026 against LSG
Cameron Green is expected to bowl for Kolkata Knight Riders for the first time in IPL 2026 when they host Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens on Thursday, a timely boost for a side ravaged by injuries to their pace attack.
Green's back injury managed by Cricket Australia
Green had been restricted to batting duties since the start of the tournament after Cricket Australia flagged a lower-back issue on March 30 and recommended he sit out bowling for 10 to 12 days while his workloads were rebuilt in India. That window has now passed, and ESPNcricinfo reported on Wednesday that the Australian all-rounder is available to bowl competitively against Rishabh Pant's LSG.
The 26-year-old, signed by KKR for a record INR 25.20 crore at the mini-auction, has played purely as a batter so far this season. The results with the bat have been modest at best. Green has scored 24 runs across three innings, with scores of 18, 2 and 4 while batting at number three and four.
KKR's pace cupboard is almost bare
Green's bowling return could not come at a better time. KKR have lost Harshit Rana to a knee injury sustained during India's T20 World Cup warm-up against South Africa. Rana underwent surgery in February and is expected to miss the bulk of the season. Akash Deep followed him to the sidelines with a lower-back injury, ruling him out entirely. Mustafizur Rahman was released from the squad on BCCI instructions before the tournament even began.
Without those three seamers, KKR's bowling has lacked bite. Captain Ajinkya Rahane has leaned heavily on Vaibhav Arora and spin, but the balance of the side has suffered. Green bowling even a handful of overs would ease the pressure on the remaining quicks and give Rahane the fifth-bowler option he has been missing.
Winless KKR need something to change
KKR sit near the bottom of the points table with just one point from a rained-off match against Punjab Kings. They have lost their other two completed games and face a Lucknow side that bounced back from an opening defeat with a convincing win. Sunil Narine is expected to return after missing the PBKS game with abdominal pain, though Varun Chakravarthy remains a doubt with a finger injury.
For KKR, the equation is simple: they need Green to start contributing as the all-rounder they paid a record price for. His bowling tonight would be a start.
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