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Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)‘s turbulent start to the IPL 2026 season has triggered fresh debate around team strategy, with former England captain Kevin Pietersen raising concerns over Cameron Green‘s batting position. With just one point from three matches, KKR currently find themselves languishing in the lower half of the points table, still searching for their first win of the campaign.
The franchise has endured a frustrating run so far — losses to Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad followed by a rain-affected clash against Punjab Kings. While there have been glimpses of promise through individual performances, the team’s overall balance, especially in the middle order, has come under scrutiny.
Middle-order struggles expose KKR’s imbalance in IPL 2026
Despite captain Ajinkya Rahane and young batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi contributing with half-centuries in the early games, KKR’s middle order has failed to provide stability. The lack of consistency in this crucial phase has hurt the team’s ability to either accelerate or recover from early setbacks.
Much of the focus has been on Green, one of KKR’s most expensive signings for the season. The Australian all-rounder has managed just 24 runs across three innings, falling short of expectations. His promotion to the No. 3 spot — a key position in T20 cricket — has particularly drawn criticism.
Kevin Pietersen questions Cameron Green’s batting number
Speaking on JioHotstar, Pietersen did not hold back in his assessment of Green’s role in the batting order. While he dismissed discussions around the player’s price tag, Pietersen emphasized that performance and suitability should dictate such decisions.
According to Pietersen, batting at No. 3 in the IPL demands a player with proven consistency and the ability to handle pressure situations — qualities he believes Green has not yet demonstrated at this level. He pointed out that although Green has shown flashes of brilliance, including a century in a previous IPL season, there is not enough evidence to justify placing him in such a pivotal role.
“I’m against talking about the money because the money is something that just happens. These guys don’t earn as much money as some of the other sportsmen around the world. But obviously, a lot of people like to talk about what I like to talk about, which is cricketing ability. And whether or not you’re good enough to be in a position of power and batting a 3 in an IPL team, you have to be good enough to be able to perform at that level,” said Pietersen.
Pietersen further argued that Green is more suited to a middle-order role, where he can play with greater freedom and contribute as a secondary bowling option. However, with Green not bowling regularly in IPL 2026, his current role in the team appears even more questionable.
“And I don’t think that he’s good enough to bat at number 3. He’s not bowling, so you have a look at what he has done. Yes, I’ve seen his, he got a 100 in Mumbai a couple of years ago. I’ve not seen enough of Cam Green to warrant batting a 3 here and taking on that responsibility. He’s a middle-order batter who bowls a bit, and that’s what he does,” added Pietersen.
Also READ: IPL 2026: Kevin Pietersen picks 4 teams to reach playoffs after first week of action
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: crickettimes.com
