Ahead of the IPL 2026 season, Kolkata Knight Riders’ record-breaking buy, Cameron Green, has found himself at the center of a heated debate. Veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has suggested that KKR should have the right to deduct at least ₹2 crore from Green’s contract if he fails to fulfill his role as a genuine all-rounder, specifically regarding his bowling workload.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin raised concerns over Cricket Australia’s potential restrictions on Green’s bowling to keep him fresh for Test cricket. “If a player is bought for ₹25 crore as an all-rounder but delivers only one or two overs per match, the franchise should be allowed to cut the contract money,” Ashwin remarked. He humorously added that if he were Shah Rukh Khan, he would be unhappy paying such a massive sum for limited services.

Adding to the complexity is the new IPL rule which caps an overseas player’s earnings at ₹18 crore in a mini-auction. Although KKR bid a record ₹25.20 crore for Green, he will only pocket ₹18 crore, while the remaining ₹7.20 crore will be diverted to the BCCI’s player welfare fund. With Green’s recent struggles in finding rhythm and fitness concerns, KKR is under immense pressure to see if their “cornerstone” investment pays off on the field.