Umesh Yadav and Aakash Chopra Slams Cameron Green After Costly Spell in KKR vs LSG Clash

Cameron Green faces criticism after an expensive spell in KKR’s last-over defeat to LSG in IPL 2026.

Cameron Green returned to bowling during Kolkata Knight Riders clash against Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens on April 9, but his spell proved expensive. Although he managed to dismiss Rishabh Pant, the Australian all-rounder conceded 28 runs in just two overs.

His second over turned out to be particularly damaging, leaking 16 runs and shifting momentum in favour of LSG. The pressure eased significantly for the chasing side, who eventually sealed a dramatic last-ball win.

Despite Vaibhav Arora having 14 runs to defend in the final over, Mukul Choudhary produced a stunning unbeaten 54 off 27 balls to guide his team home.

ALSO READ | Ajinkya Rahane Blames Cricket Australia After Cameron Green Misses Bowling Against MI

Umesh Yadav Questions Green’s Bowling Approach

Former KKR pacer Umesh Yadav was critical of Green’s execution in the crucial 19th over, pointing out a lack of variation and predictability. Speaking during a discussion, he emphasized the importance of the penultimate over in T20 cricket.

“From the T20 perspective, I always feel that when the game is so close, the 19th over is very important because you win or lose the game in that 19th over. If the bowler who bowls the 19th over bowls a good over, runs are left for the bowler who bowls the 20th. If he bowls a bad 19th over, you won’t have runs left,” the former KKR pacer said during a discussion on JioHotstar.

“Green could have done slightly better. He was very predictable. All were slower balls into the wicket. You might miss one or two balls, but how many balls will you miss because you also have to hit sixes? Bowling six slower balls into the wicket in an over is not a matter of intelligence, and that for a player who has played so much. It would have mattered had he saved even one six,” he added.

Aakash Chopra Calls It a “Reality Check” for Green

Former India batter Aakash Chopra echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that the match exposed Green’s limitations as a death bowler.

“It was a reality check for Cameron Green that he is not a death bowler. When you come into a league like the IPL, you get a reality check. A small kid, who has never played for India and hasn’t represented Rajasthan in double-digit games in any format, was standing in front of you, and he hit you for 16 runs,” he added.

Chopra also highlighted the lack of bowling options in the KKR lineup, noting that the team relied heavily on Sunil Narine as their only overseas bowling option.

“You bowled two balls and you felt you would escape if you bowled that only. Then you were hit for a four and two sixes, and you conceded 16 runs. Of course, KKR’s hands are slightly tied because, barring Sunil Narine, they didn’t have an overseas bowler. Where they are making him bowl, it’s not his place,” Chopra observed.