Mumbai Indians, a powerhouse in the IPL with five championships to their name, spent a staggering Rs 17.50 crore to secure Cameron Green during the 2023 mini-auctions. This move, finalized in December 2022, was designed to fill the void left by Kieron Pollard. The veteran star had announced his retirement from the IPL in November, though he opted to stay with the franchise to share his expertise as a batting coach.
One of the most successful franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Mumbai Indians bought Cameron Green for a whopping Rs 17.50 crore in the IPL 2023 mini-auctions. The five-time IPL champions replaced veteran all-rounder Kieron Pollard in their squad with young Australian all-rounder Green in December 2022. Earlier in November, Mumbai Indians star player Pollard announced his retirement from IPL. But the West Indian will continue with the Mumbai franchise as a batting coach.
There was a growing narrative in the media that MI was in trouble due to a serious injury suffered by Green just before the 2023 season. To put these fears to rest, the Australian all-rounder decided to speak publicly and debunk the rumors. The 23-year-old expressed his bewilderment at the reports claiming his bowling would be restricted in the early stages of the competition, insisting instead that he is 100% ready to perform all his duties for the team.
Some reports had suggested that Green wouldn't be fit to bowl in the IPL until after April, following a broken finger caused by an Anrich Nortje bouncer in the second Test against South Africa. As one of the most expensive players ever bought in an IPL auction, Green dismissed these claims on Thursday, noting that he has no idea where this misinformation started.
Green mentioned that while he's been aware of these rumors for some time, they are simply untrue. He clarified that he will be fully available to both bat and bowl from the very first game. That said, he emphasized that his immediate focus is the four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series against India.
The high-stakes battle between these two WTC leaders begins on February 9 in Nagpur. Although medical professionals suggested surgery for Green, he is expected to recover in time to feature in the opening Test of the series.
Green is eager to hit the ground running and deliver a strong performance to justify the faith Mumbai Indians placed in him. He acknowledged that cricket is a sport defined by failure, where misses often outweigh successes. For him, the secret to success is having a supportive network to help him bounce back stronger after a setback. He wrapped up by stating he is doing everything possible to accelerate his recovery and get back on the field.