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Cameron Green at centre of brutal scenes in IPL after $3.15m payday

Australia's record IPL signing copped a baptism of fire in his first ever match in the competition.

Andrew Reid
·4-min read
Seen here, Aussie cricket player Cameron Green in his first ever match in the IPL.
Cameron Green was given a baptism of fire in his first ever match in the IPL. Pic: Fox Sports

Cameron Green has been dealt a harsh reality check in his highly anticipated Indian Premier League debut, after failing with bat and ball in the Mumbai Indians' chastening eight-wicket loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The all-rounder joined the IPL as the most expensive Aussie cricket player in the history of the competition after being snapped up by Mumbai at auction for a staggering $3.15 million.

However, Green was given a brutal baptism of fire after Mumbai were sent in to bat first and lost opener Ishan Kishan for just 10 runs. That brought Green to the crease at first drop but the Aussie managed just four runs after an inside edge off English paceman Reece Topley clattered into his stumps. Mumbai went on to make 7-171, thanks largely to Tilak Varma's brutal 84no off 46 balls, which included a six and a four off Glenn Maxwell's lone over which went for 16 runs.

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Things didn't get much better for Green with the ball in hand, with the Aussie belted for 17 runs off his first over. RCB captain Faf du Plessis picked the 23-year-old apart in his first over, smacking the big quick for a six and two fours in a telling sign of what was to come.

When Australia's most expensive IPL recruit returned to bowl in the latter stages of the match, it was compatriot Maxwell who gave him similar treatment. The allrounder did at least pick up his maiden wicket, getting Dinesh Karthik caught in the deep for a duck.

That was a rare highlight for Mumbai though, as RCB's openers du Plessis (73 off 43 balls) and Virat Kohli (82no) chased down Mumbai's 172-run victory target with ease. Kohli knocked off the winning runs with his fifth six in a superb knock, with Green seen laughing in bemusement after the match with Maxwell, who smashed him for two sixes in a row at one point.

Aussie cricket star Glenn Maxwell and Virat Kohli celebrate RCB's win in the IPL.
Glenn Maxwell and Virat Kohli celebrate RCB's win in the IPL. Pic: AAP

Cameron Green cops it after disappointing debut

It was a harsh learning experience for Green, who quickly found out the levels of scrutiny that come with having such a lofty price tag. Fans were quick to remind him and a number of the IPL's other big-money signings of that fact in a difficult opening round.

Du Plessis was voted player of the match for his scintillating batting display that lay the platform for RCB's triumph. RCB's South African skipper hit six sixes in his dazzling half century alongside Kohli, with the pair putting on 148 for the opening wicket.

Earlier on Sunday, in Hyderabad, the Rajasthan Royals showed off their potent batting with Jos Buttler leading the way with 54 off 22 balls, while Yashasvi Jaiswal (54) and captain Sanju Samson (55) also got half-centuries in their 5-203 against the Sunsrisers.

Hyderabad could only muster 8-131 in response after Trent Boult (2-21) dismantled the home team's batting by claiming two wickets in his first over before conceding a run. Yuzvendra Chahal then grabbed 4-17 to lead the Royals to the resounding 72-run win.

with AAP

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