Cameron Green's Struggles Raise Concerns for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026

Cameron Green's lackluster performance in IPL 2026 has drawn sharp criticism from former cricketer Simon Doull, who questions his confidence and suggests potential changes for the Kolkata Knight Riders. With the team struggling at the bottom of the standings and captain Ajinkya Rahane's leadership under scrutiny, KKR faces mounting pressure to turn their season around. Doull's recommendations could lead to significant shifts in the team's strategy as they seek to improve their performance in the ongoing tournament.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 15, 2026, 12:46 IST

Simon Doull Critiques Cameron Green's Performance

Former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull has sharply criticized Cameron Green, a key signing for the Kolkata Knight Riders, following another disappointing performance in the IPL 2026 match against the Chennai Super Kings on April 14.

Acquired for ₹25.20 crores during the auction, Green has struggled to make an impact with both bat and ball this season. After five matches, his batting average stands at a mere 14, while his bowling average is 58, with an alarming economy rate of 14.50. In the match against CSK, he faced a particularly tough outing, getting out for a golden duck and conceding 30 runs in just two overs.

Doull's Recommendations for KKR

On Cricbuzz, Doull expressed his concerns, stating, "He seems mentally absent. The shot he played showed a lack of confidence. He was all over the place with that delivery, leading to another disappointing dismissal. KKR is not getting the expected returns from him. What should they do next?"

Doull proposed that KKR might want to consider substituting Green with Ravindra, suggesting they could either open with Seifert or Allen and move Ravindra into the middle order. He emphasized the need for Kolkata to reassess their team balance if they are looking for an additional bowling option.

KKR's Ongoing Struggles

The challenges for KKR extend beyond Green's performance. The team has lost four out of their first five matches this season, continuing a disappointing trend from the previous year when they finished in eighth place.

Doull also expressed doubts about Ajinkya Rahane's captaincy, noting, "The issue is that there isn't a standout player who can take over the captaincy from Rahane. While he is scoring runs, it’s not at the pace he would prefer. Their options for captaincy are quite limited."

Rahane's Contributions Amidst Challenges

Despite the struggles, Rahane remains KKR's second-highest run-scorer this season, accumulating 152 runs at an average of 38 and a strike rate exceeding 149. Doull pointed out that while Rahane's leadership may not be particularly inspiring, alternatives like Rinku Singh are also underperforming and not ready to step up.

With Rahane's contributions notwithstanding, KKR's campaign has hit a rough patch, placing them at the bottom of the league standings. As scrutiny on Green's form intensifies and questions about captaincy arise, Kolkata is under increasing pressure to identify solutions before their season deteriorates further.