IPL 2026: Cameron Green key to KKR’s future plans, reveals Coach Abhishek Nayar

Mumbai, Dec 19: Kolkata Knight Riders' aggressive bidding for Cameron Green at the IPL 2026 Auction was a calculated move aimed at reshaping the franchise's core, former India captain Anil Kumble and KKR

head coach Abhishek Nayar said during JioHotstar's IPL Auction Review.

Kumble felt Kolkata Knight Riders had assembled a strong and balanced squad, highlighting the acquisition of Rachin Ravindra at base price as a smart piece of business.

"KKR have done really well. Getting Rachin Ravindra at base price was smart. He is a quality player. Cameron Green will take the place of Andre Russell in the team. Russell was a master finisher, while Green prefers batting in the top three, but they will make it work. All in all, the squad of KKR is looking really solid and they have serious batting power," Kumble said.

Former India batter Robin Uthappa, meanwhile, spoke about the challenges facing Matheesha Pathirana as he looks to rediscover his best form after a difficult period marked by injuries and changes in bowling action.

"Pathirana's form has been poor for 12 to 18 months. Injury and a change in action have affected him. His strength was his older, more side-on action. If he can return to that, he will be more effective. I've heard he's been working with Lasith Malinga, which is great for him," Uthappa said, adding that bowling at Eden Gardens remains a tough test for fast bowlers.

Explaining KKR's auction approach, head coach Abhishek Nayar said the franchise was determined to secure Cameron Green and was not keen on holding back funds.

"There was no point in saving the money. If we have the money, we spend it. With Andre Russell gone, we needed someone to take the franchise forward. That is why we were desperate to get Cameron Green," Nayar said.

Nayar added that KKR see Green as a top-order batter capable of delivering big returns.

"We see him batting in the top three. He is a player who can score 500 runs for us. Over the past few years, our success came when our top three scored heavily, and we hope Cameron can do that for us," he said.

On missing out on Venkatesh Iyer, Nayar said KKR tried to re-sign the experienced all-rounder but were ultimately outbid. "He has been a franchise player for us. We tried to get him back, but it didn't work out. I wish him all the best in his new IPL journey," Nayar said.

The TATA IPL 2026 will be broadcast live on JioHotstar and the Star Sports Network.