Mumbai: Over the years, the IPL has seen various high-profile acquisitions due to the pressure of its high price tags. In 2014, it was Yuvraj Singhwas bought by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for Rs 14 crore, while in 2025, it Rishabh PantLucknow Supergiants bought for Rs 27 crore, both of which seemed to weigh less than their huge auction prices. There have been many others.In this context, there is genuine concern that the latest on the list could be an Australian all-rounder. Cameron Greenewho was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 25.20 crore in the IPL mini auction in November last year.
However, before the opening match of IPL-2026 against his team Mumbai Indians KKR assistant coach and former Australian all-rounder at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday night Shane Watson He insisted that Green will not be weighed down by his high price tag, pointing out that the Australian all-rounder prefers to play with complete freedom.“I’ve seen players in the past who were priced too high. I’ve seen them break down in the past; that wave of expectations really eroded their ability to perform at their best,” Watson told reporters ahead of KKR’s training session at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.Watson recalled that Green was bought by Mumbai Indians and later traded to RCB for a huge price and had done quite well in the past. “Cameron certainly doesn’t see it that way. We saw with him when he was picked up a few years ago for a fairly reasonable fee to play here in MI (Greene played in the IPL for the first time in 2023, when MI bought him for Rs 17.5 crore), he had a great season (he scored 452 runs at a strike rate of 26). That’s his mindset when it comes to the IPL – that he has nothing to lose,” Watson said.“Obviously, that’s what people are willing to pay for him, but he’s out there as free as he can be, do his best, and we’ve seen that in the IPL over the last two seasons. “If you’ve seen the way he’s been training over the last couple of weeks, I don’t think his performance is going to detract from that price tag, because he’s very independent and excited about being able to be independent in the middle,” he explained.Watson said that joining KKR was “very exciting” for him, especially because of the opportunity to work closely with Green. “There are many exciting things about my coming to KKR. Working with Cameron Greene is the greatest. “I’ve had many conversations with him over the years, but being able to support him on his journey and help him grow is something I’m really excited about,” Watson said.Due to injuries to pacers Harshit Rana and Akash Deep, both of whom have been ruled out of IPL-2026, Watson admitted that KKR is “doing everything” to bring Muttisha Pathirana into their camp.“It is a waiting game at the moment, and we are guided by the Sri Lankan Cricket Board. We are doing everything we can to get it here as soon as possible. With the caliber of support staff and medical staff that we have got at KKR, we have the same interests as Sri Lankan cricket. We want Pathirana to be here. We want them to be fit. We will certainly never push it before it is necessary.“We just hope that soon he’ll be able to come here and we can really start the integration process,” Watson said.Watson praised Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Mazarbani, who was included in the squad days before the tournament, and said KKR hoped he would seize the opportunity and deliver. “Life is all about opportunities, and to be able to see someone like Blessing Mudarabani working so hard with his accomplishments on the field is fantastic. For a tall guy, he’s a great athlete. “He’s got great skills, and for him to get a chance to take it to the world stage and test himself against the best batsmen in the world, I’m excited for him,” Watson said.KKR’s young top-order batsman, Angkrish Raghuvanshi of Mumbai, has been clamoring to be ready to don the keeping gloves, Watson revealed. “Raghavanshi has been working tirelessly on his wicket-keeping for the last five or six months.”
