IPL 2026: Will Cameron Green bowl today vs PBKS? KKR coach provides major update

Australian seam bowling all-rounder Cameron Green remains a mystery for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the ongoing IPL 2026 season. On whom the franchise invested a record-breaking sum of INR 25.20 crore, remained mostly unused as Cricket Australia (CA) barred him from bowling. 

In the first two matches with the KKR, Cameron Green played only as a batter and did not deliver a single over because of CA’s directives. The cricket governing board of Australia is concerned about its star player’s lower back injury. Because bowling could put extra pressure on the lower back, the board did not permit the IPL team to bowl immediately after the tournament began. 

Will Cameron Green bowl vs the Punjab Kings?

Ahead of KKR’s third match on Monday at the Eden Gardens against the Punjab Kings (PBKS), Tim Southee, the bowling coach of the Knight Riders, claimed that Green will start bowling soon for them in the ongoing IPL 2026 season. The controversy began right after the Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders match at the Wankhede Stadium.

Fans and cricket experts were hoping to see Green deliver a few overs. But that did not happen. Green played only as a batter. After the match, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane was asked why the Aussie all-rounder did not come to bowl. In response, the skipper said that Cricket Australia could give the proper answer. Soon after Rahane’s comment, CA responded by saying that the franchise is well aware of the current status of the player. 

“Cameron has a lower back injury, which is being managed but requires him to abstain from bowling for a short period. Cameron is currently rebuilding his bowling loads in India with a view to returning in around 10–12 days. KKR has been communicated with and is fully aware of this information,” a CA spokesperson said.

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KKR bowling coach Tim Southee provides updates on Green

So far, KKR has played only a couple of matches and lost on both occasions. Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad handed the 3-time IPL winners defeats by huge margins. Ahead of the Knight Riders’ next match against the Punjab Kings, who are currently on a 2-match winning streak. Hours before the KKR vs PBKS fixture in Kolkata, Southee was asked whether Cameron Green would bowl against Punjab.

“Cameron's been bowling well, tracking obviously his rehab and giving himself back to being able to bowl in games. He'll continue to do that. We're in regular contact with Cricket Australia, and I'm sure we'll see Cameron bowling soon,” KKR bowling coach Tim Southee told the media in the pre-match press conference on Sunday.

“All of a sudden, you can't bowl in the game. That's why he has been bowling in the nets; he has been working on getting his match-fitness ready, and that takes time. There is constant touch between us and Cricket Australia. I'm sure it's not far before he starts bowling,” Southee, who was a pacer for the New Zealand cricket team, explained why Green can’t bowl in a match straightaway.

With the bat, the 26-year-old batting all-rounder has not done enough so far. Against the Mumbai Indians, Green scored 18, and in the match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, he contributed only 2 runs in KKR’s scorecard.