Australia’s T20 World Cup 2021-winning captain Aaron Finch has criticised Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team management for slotting Cameron Green at no.6 in the run chase against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on April 14. Finch was surprised to see Green being sent in when two spinners were operating despite experienced campaigners Shane Watson, Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Tim Southee in the dugout.
"When you've got as much experience in that dugout, you think that they'd be at least making the right calls at the right time. To Cameron Green batting at No. 6, that's an unusual position for him. I don't think he's done that a huge amount in T20 cricket," Finch said.
"Starting against two spinners [Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmad], he only lasted one ball. But that's his worst nightmare, walking out to bat [against spin], particularly in a run chase.”
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Finch bashes ignorant KKR
Green has struggled for runs. Since getting the green light to bowl, he has been expensive. Finch expects KKR to not think about the price tag of Rs 25.20 crore while picking Green and bat him out of position. The Australian got bowled for a golden duck by Noor Ahmad.
"I don't think you ever pick a team on price tags. That would be really ignorant to do that. Because buying at the auction is a supply and demand of a skill set that you bring. It's not about, well, we have to play this guy because we paid this much for him. He's playing out of position. His best numbers have been at the top of the order,” the former Australia opener explained.
Finch wants in-form Seifert in the side
Finch expects Tim Seifert to be picked in the side. He was the highest run-scorer in T20 World Cup 2026, amassing 326 runs from eight innings at an average of 46.57 and strike rate of 166.32. He scored four half-centuries, most by a player in the tournament.
"You've got Seifert sitting in the wings, he's a specialist opener. Cameron Green hasn't played a huge amount of T20 cricket [recently, because of injuries]," Finch said.
"So you've got a guy there who brings a good skill set and really good form in Seifert, coming off a good [T20] World Cup. Who's got the scoops, he's got the ramps, he's got a lot of different options.
"He is a player that you have to do multiple stages of planning for when you're a captain coming up against someone like him, because he's got so many different skills. So I think that there is a time when you just have to say, you know what, it hasn't worked just yet. That's not to say that it's done and dusted for the tournament, but I think that it gets to a point where you go, right, we need to rejig our side and rethink about how we're structuring it up."
KKR are still winless in IPL 2026. Not just Green, Finn Allen has been out of form too. With Matheesha Pathirana being available, a few changes in the KKR lineup are expected when they go up against Gujarat Titans (GT).