3 reasons KKR should replace Andre Russell with Cameron Green for IPL 2026

The blazing century against South Africa has increased hype around Cameron Green ahead of the mini auction of IPL 2026. After playing IPL 2023 and IPL 2024, the Australian all-rounder missed the previous Indian Premier League edition.

Multiple teams in IPL 2025 lacked an overseas all-rounder department. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the former champion, also face issues from this part of their squad. Andre Russell, the seasoned all-rounder for KKR, is now well over his prime days and took retirement from T20Is at the age of 37. KKR needs to find a proper replacement for the pace bowling all-rounder. Cameron Green can be a like-for-like substitution—a pace bowling all-rounder in place of another pace bowling all-rounder.

Green has so far participated in only two IPL seasons, and those two campaigns were incredible for him in terms of individual stats. In IPL 2023, the Aussie played for the Mumbai Indians and generated a batting average of 50.22 in 16 innings, powered by an unbeaten century. In total, he scored 452 runs for the Mumbai-based team.

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Why KKR should consider Green in place of Russell?

In the following season, Green moved to Royal Challengers Bengaluru and hit 255 runs in 12 innings; 31.87 was his batting average. He got notable success with the ball too. In total, the emerging all-rounder clinched 16 wickets in 29 IPL matches. KKR should secure the service of Cameron Green because he is only 26 years old, can hit the ball, and can take wickets as well.

Andre Russell has been associated with KKR for over 10 years. He played for other Knight Riders-acquired teams too. His previous IPL season for the Kolkata Knight Riders was not something to brag about. In 10 innings, the West Indian scored 167 runs in total at an average of 18.55. His bowling numbers were also unimpressive. In 9 IPL 2025 innings, the all-rounder claimed 8 wickets but proved costly, as his economy rate was 11.94—the poorest economy rate of his entire IPL career.