The inability to allow Cameron Green to bowl during the Kolkata Knight Riders' IPL 2026 opener versus Mumbai Indians has once again put Cricket Australia under fire, after their tight grip on their players saw most Australian fast bowlers absent from the IPL this year due to management of work load or injury. The list of absent Australian pace men includes the likes of Pat Cummins (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Mitchell Starc (Delhi Capitals) and Josh Hazlewood (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) who have all been held back or ruled out. Former Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians batsman Ambati Rayudu was quick to criticize Cricket Australia's decision over Green. "Can he play a cover drive or not? Maybe he might just injure his elbow. Maybe he should just flick the ball." Ambati Rayudu continued: "It is absolutely absurd. When somebody is coming to compete in a tournament and you tell him, 'You can do this and you can't do that,' it's absolute nonsense. It can't happen in a professional setting. I think it should be up to the player. If he is competing as a professional, he should be able to do whatever he is capable of doing. The player is the best judge." Rayudu added personal anecdote: "My mom always wanted me to wear a helmet, but I never liked it. That does not mean my mom signs a contract and sends me out saying, 'He can't play, my son might get injured.'" Also read | Mystery in Mumbai: British Broadcast Engineer Found Dead at Trident Hotel Amid IPL 2026 | What Happened? Former players voice concern over the over-control Even former Indian leg-spinner Piyush Chawla raised questions regarding Cricket Australia's move: "Okay, his board has said that he can't bowl for a particular number of games. I just want to know if some all-rounder goes to the Big Bash and if you write a note saying that he can't bat or he can't run, will they be featured in the playing XI? I don't think so. Why is it like this here? As simple as that." Post KKR's opening fixture, their captain Ajinkya Rahane also reacted to the query regarding Green not bowling. "That question you need to ask Cricket Australia. Hopefully, Green starts to bowl soon, and the combination will be slightly different." The development has brought forth discussions about whether boards should dictate the usage of their players in franchise leagues, and former players and fans are raising their voices in support of players' autonomy and the fact that professional cricketers should be their own judges while performing as professionals. Cricket Australia's stance on player injury management may have a bearing on team performance in major tournaments like the IPL, and it's a debate likely to continue throughout the league.