Ajinkya Rahane, the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), addressed inquiries regarding Cameron Green's absence from bowling during the IPL 2026 match against Mumbai Indians on Sunday. Despite KKR scoring an impressive 220 runs, they fell short, losing by six wickets.

In the post-match presentation, Rahane suggested that questions about Green's bowling should be directed to Cricket Australia. He stated, "That question you need to ask Cricket Australia." Green, who was acquired by KKR for a record Rs 25.20 crore, managed to score 18 runs off 10 balls but did not bowl any overs.

Rahane acknowledged the challenges faced by KKR's relatively inexperienced bowling lineup and praised his batting performance. He also commended Kartik Tyagi's bowling. Rahane expressed optimism that Green's eventual bowling would enhance the team's balance, referring to the match as a valuable learning experience with several positives. He remarked, "It was really tough for the bowlers. They are inexperienced, but they will learn. Our batting lineup is strong, and this is a learning curve. MI batted well, and our bowlers will definitely learn from this. I'm pleased with my current batting form. I hope Green starts bowling soon, as that will change our combination. Finding the right balance with the ball is crucial. We batted well, and I thought Kartik Tyagi bowled effectively. He performed well after a break. There are many positives, and we have a long way to go."

Mumbai Indians' captain Hardik Pandya expressed his team's joy at securing their first season opener victory since 2012, attributing the success to the bowlers who kept the target manageable. He noted that while high scores can be challenging to chase, a target of 220 runs is achievable. Pandya stated, "It's been a long wait to win the season opener. Every time we've come, we wanted to start the season positively. The entire group is thrilled that we accomplished this. Regarding chasing big totals, modern cricket has shown us how this wicket plays. Credit goes to the bowlers for preventing KKR from reaching 240 or 250 runs, which would have been tough targets. But 220 is always chaseable."

Pandya praised the batting performances of Rohit Sharma and Rickelton, as well as Shardul Thakur's clever bowling. He humorously mentioned that he advised Thakur to remain with the franchise for the rest of his career, saying, "Rohit and Rickelton were outstanding. Whenever I see Rohit play some shots, it leaves everyone in awe. Nothing short of excellent. Regarding Thakur, I told him to stop hopping franchises and stay here for his career. The way he outsmarts batters is brilliant."

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