Just ahead of the start of IPL 2026, KKR would be relieved to witness their star all-rounder Cameron Green hitting some good form in his signing-off game in the Sheffield Shield. This marked his first red-ball century since May 2025 and his first across any format since August 2025.
Western Australia took on New South Wales for the last round of the Sheffield Shield, and Australian all-rounder Cameron Green put big stakes at risk as he played the match ahead of his big-money arrival in the IPL for the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Green started his IPL journey with the Mumbai Indians and then played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore the very next season after being traded off to the Red Devils. He missed the 2025 season due to injuries and is all set to return with a third franchise in 2026.
Your daily dose of cricket!
Cameron Green returns to form with a terrific century ahead of IPL 2026
Australian all-rounder Cameron Green was bought for a massive amount of money in the IPL by the Kolkata Knight Riders. They broke the record for the highest amount of money spent on an overseas cricketer. However, Green’s continuous dip in form added to KKR’s concerns.
Cameron Green missed out on a single 50+ score through the Ashes series against England and then could not pull out anything special as Australia crashed out of the ICC T20 World Cup Group stages following defeats against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.
However, in the final game of the Sheffield Shield season for him, Green manifested something special. He managed to score a century off 167 balls, after having made a slow start, getting his first runs after 21 balls.
He then smashed the New South Wales bowlers all around the park and whacked them for some big ones, as his unbeaten 130 on Day 2 saw Western Australia take a promising lead over New South Wales.
This Sheffield Shield century might help Green retain his Australia team spot in red-ball cricket
The KKR all-rounder’s last century came back in August when he scored a quickfire century in an ODI match against South Africa. His last red-ball century came in English County cricket back in May for Gloucestershire.
Despite his lack of form, the Australian selectors backed him over Beau Webster, the Tasmanian all-rounder who finally played his only Ashes game in the final Test at the SCG. Webster also contributed magnificently with both the bat and ball, unlike Green.
However, this Shield hundred could get him to retain his spot in the Australian middle order when he returns to play Test cricket in August. Australia’s Test schedule mentions their upcoming fixtures against Bangladesh in August, followed by three in South Africa and four more at home against New Zealand.
Will KKR expect Cameron Green to bowl in IPL 2026?
KKR would have had high hopes picking Cameron Green. Green’s first season for the Mumbai Indians saw him performing with great class as he scored 400+ runs and picked 10+ wickets in his first season. The following season for RCB was a little low with the bat, as he was pushed down the order, but his bowling came in handy for them as well.
However, KKR would surely give him the desired role at no. 3, as they have been in the quest for one such player. KKR paid him 25.20 crore in the IPL mini-auction, the most to any overseas cricketer, surpassing teammate Mitchell Starc’s record in the IPL.
This much money was probably given with KKR idealizing him to bowl some overs. Though he had registered as a specialist batter, KKR management saw him bowl in the T20 World Cup and might bring his seam bowling to use, especially with so many of their frontline bowlers being ruled out.
