'Not good enough to bat at No.3 in IPL': Pietersen's damning verdict on Rs 25.2 Cr recruit
· Yahoo Sports
Kolkata Knight Riders’ struggles in IPL 2026 have once again brought the spotlight firmly on Cameron Green, whose underwhelming returns continue to raise questions about his role in the side.
The Australian all-rounder, yet to be cleared to bowl this season, has not been able to make an impact with the bat either. Across three matches, Green has managed just 24 runs, with his latest outing against Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens ending in disappointment after scoring only four runs off two balls. With no clarity on when he will resume bowling, scrutiny around his place in the XI has only intensified.
While Green has been gradually building his workload in the nets, several experts believe that his current role as a specialist batter is not justified, especially in a high-pressure position like No. 3.
During the rain break in KKR’s clash against Punjab Kings, former England captain Kevin Pietersen openly questioned the decision to persist with Green in such a crucial role.
“I'm against talking about the money because the money is something that just happens. These guys don't earn as much money as some of the other sportsmen around the world. But obviously, a lot of people like to talk about what I like to talk about, which is cricketing ability. And whether or not you're good enough to be in a position of power and batting a 3 in an IPL team, you have to be good enough to be able to perform at that level,” Pietersen said.
“And I don't think that he's good enough to bat at number 3. He's not bowling, so you have a look at what he has done. Yes, I've seen his, he got a 100 in Mumbai a couple of years ago. I've not seen enough of Cam Green to warrant batting at 3 here and taking on that responsibility. He's a middle-order batter who bowls a bit, and that's what he does,” he added.
Echoing similar concerns, former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar pointed to a broader issue with team composition, especially when it comes to overseas slots.
“You have to think of the specialists. If you think of Rachindra Ravindra and Cameron Green, they are not necessarily proven T20 players, and when you are picking overseas players, they have to be specialists because there are only four spots available. So, if you look at who is the ideal player, if Cameron Green is not bowling, then he doesn't fit into that, you know, just a batsman category as far as an overseas batter is concerned,” Bangar said.
“So, you might as well think of Rovman Powell, who is a proven T20 specialist who bats and does a very specialised job. So, I like Powell for the fact that he is a specialist, does a role, and he is a proven commodity rather than hoping that someone would come good,” he added.
KKR were somewhat fortunate to escape with a point in their rain-hit encounter against Punjab Kings. At the time play was halted, they were struggling at 25/2 in 3.4 overs after opting to bat first, with Green’s early dismissal adding to their woes.
130079827
As the season progresses, KKR face a crucial call — whether to persist with Green in the hope that he regains form and fitness, or rethink their combination in a campaign that is already beginning to slip away.
The Australian all-rounder, yet to be cleared to bowl this season, has not been able to make an impact with the bat either. Across three matches, Green has managed just 24 runs, with his latest outing against Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens ending in disappointment after scoring only four runs off two balls. With no clarity on when he will resume bowling, scrutiny around his place in the XI has only intensified.
While Green has been gradually building his workload in the nets, several experts believe that his current role as a specialist batter is not justified, especially in a high-pressure position like No. 3.
During the rain break in KKR’s clash against Punjab Kings, former England captain Kevin Pietersen openly questioned the decision to persist with Green in such a crucial role.
“I'm against talking about the money because the money is something that just happens. These guys don't earn as much money as some of the other sportsmen around the world. But obviously, a lot of people like to talk about what I like to talk about, which is cricketing ability. And whether or not you're good enough to be in a position of power and batting a 3 in an IPL team, you have to be good enough to be able to perform at that level,” Pietersen said.
“And I don't think that he's good enough to bat at number 3. He's not bowling, so you have a look at what he has done. Yes, I've seen his, he got a 100 in Mumbai a couple of years ago. I've not seen enough of Cam Green to warrant batting at 3 here and taking on that responsibility. He's a middle-order batter who bowls a bit, and that's what he does,” he added.
Echoing similar concerns, former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar pointed to a broader issue with team composition, especially when it comes to overseas slots.
“You have to think of the specialists. If you think of Rachindra Ravindra and Cameron Green, they are not necessarily proven T20 players, and when you are picking overseas players, they have to be specialists because there are only four spots available. So, if you look at who is the ideal player, if Cameron Green is not bowling, then he doesn't fit into that, you know, just a batsman category as far as an overseas batter is concerned,” Bangar said.
“So, you might as well think of Rovman Powell, who is a proven T20 specialist who bats and does a very specialised job. So, I like Powell for the fact that he is a specialist, does a role, and he is a proven commodity rather than hoping that someone would come good,” he added.
KKR were somewhat fortunate to escape with a point in their rain-hit encounter against Punjab Kings. At the time play was halted, they were struggling at 25/2 in 3.4 overs after opting to bat first, with Green’s early dismissal adding to their woes.
130079827
As the season progresses, KKR face a crucial call — whether to persist with Green in the hope that he regains form and fitness, or rethink their combination in a campaign that is already beginning to slip away.
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