There’s always a buzz that follows him around. Coming up through the ranks in age-group cricket back in Western Australia, he was always touted as the next big thing. Try as hard as you can, his talent will make noise. And ahead of IPL 2023, with a price tag of 17.50cr INR, it felt was reaching its climax.

Nope. Cameron Green and his buzz were just getting started. With 452 runs to his name in 16 games, that included him snatching games from the jaws of defeat, to scoring a magnificent century, to carrying on the Blue and Gold legacy of big-hitting in the middle-order and lighting up the Wankhede, he’d sounded the warning bugle, loud and clear.

“The vibe around the Mumbai Indians team is about that it feels like it is a family, I definitely felt welcomed in there. I had a great experience with them,” Green said in a chat with The Grade Cricketer podcast. “The fans are so loyal, like I'll walk off after making two runs, and they give me the biggest claps ever. I think they are just really happy that you're right there in front of them and it’s a great experience. You can just see the joy that everyone has there.”

In tandem with captain RO, chatting, advising, and setting fields while marshalling the troops around, Green saw the passion, the famous raw Rohit passion that’s still burning bright even after 15 years. “He is awesome. He gives so much time especially before a games helping me with tactics and field positions. For a guy who's playing 15 years of IPL, he could have taken a seat back and just enjoyed the ride for a bit, but he's still so passionate.”

That passion, and that transferring of confidence, was something he found in MI’s Icon, the legend, the master, Sachin Tendulkar as well, during their long chats pre-game. “He loves to come to trainings, he comes on a lot of game days. Gives a lot more time that he really doesn't have to. I had a few good chats with him. Early on he spoke about opening my bat face up to access off side and just stuff like that. You can't believe that he's told you.”

It’s this confidence that came through in his batting, where among the other special innings he played, came his century in MI’s must-win final league game. “I think that just comes with confidence. Your chest puffs back a bit when you're playing well,” he said of his century.

“Just comes naturally because you're not really thinking so much. It’s just the natural swagger that comes with just confidence. You feel awesome but I think you've got to also bring yourself back to reality and it’s not always like that but you have to enjoy it when you're at it.”

Now Green may be battling concussion after getting hit on the head in the first ODI against South Africa in Bloemfontein. But our man is a certified big stage player. Come the World Cup, and come the big moments, trust him to grab them with both hands!