Cameron Green becomes most expensive overseas player in IPL history: How the 26-year-old excels in cricket despite living with CKD

Australian cricketer Cameron Green has become the most expensive overseas player in IPL history, bought over by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for INR 25.20 crore. The 26-year-old has had a fascinating career, but not many know that he lives with a chronic condition called Chronic kidney disease (CKD). Let's take a look...

The diagnosis

Cameron Green was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease before birth, based on abnormal test results during his mother's 19-week pregnancy scan. His parents were told there was a thickening of the bladder and a blockage in the urethra, which caused urine to flow back toward the kidneys and could stop them from developing properly. Doctors predicted his life span would not reach his 12th birthday, because his womb development presented severe kidney problems.




When Cameron spoke about it

In a 2023 interview with Channel 7, Green said, "I'm still trying to learn as much as I can about it. Basically, my kidneys don't work as well as other people's and don't filter the blood very well." He added, "So I have got to keep my salt and my protein quite low, which isn't ideal as a cricketer but around games I can pick that protein intake back up because I spend so much of it out on the ground. It's just about finding the best ways to look after me."

What his condition means medically

Green has explained that his kidney function operates at 60% of normal levels, placing him in stage 2 CKD according to the five-stage classification system. This system begins with stage 1 for minor damage and ends at stage 5 for dialysis or transplant requirements. The treatment process for kidney damage requires patients to receive care which focuses on reducing the disease progression rate, while stopping the condition from advancing into more dangerous stages.

Growing with CKD

Green spent most of his childhood in hospitals, undergoing many ultrasound tests to monitor his kidney growth and health. Doctors regularly and closely monitor children who have structural kidney issues or congenital CKD. They track the speed of kidney function deterioration while monitoring for potential complications, which include high blood pressure, anaemia and poor growth and bone issues.

Managing CKD while playing international cricket

Green reports that his kidney disease produces no noticeable daily symptoms that interfere with his cricket career. The condition causes his body to react differently to fluids and electrolytes, resulting in intense muscle cramps when he bowls or bats for extended periods during hot and demanding games. He said, "It's never really impacted me physically but some of the symptoms were a lot of cramping. I'd be playing footy and get to the third quarter and I'd go down with double-calf cramps but I never really put the link together, I just thought that maybe I was running too much or not eating or drinking properly. You can see that I am fine physically and that normally isn't the case for people with this disease so I do consider myself pretty lucky."

Diet, fluids and support team

Because damaged kidneys cannot filter and balance minerals as well as healthy ones, Green must be careful about how much protein and sodium (salt) he eats. The kidneys must operate at increased capacity when patients consume excessive amounts of protein and salt, as this leads to higher blood pressure and faster CKD disease advancement. Therefore, patients receive instructions to eat according to kidney-friendly dietary guidelines.

What chronic kidney disease is in general

Chronic kidney disease is permanent kidney damage that results in three months or longer of decreased kidney function through eGFR reduction or urine protein presence. Adults can develop this condition due to diabetes, high blood pressure and inherited conditions which include polycystic kidney disease, as well as repeated infections or birth defects, such as Green's condition.



How CKD is usually managed

The disease progression of damaged kidneys requires treatment that includes multiple methods to achieve disease control and maintain general health status. Doctors work to control blood pressure and handle diabetes and blood sugar levels, and they advise patients to reduce their salt consumption and stay hydrated.

Disclaimer: This article is informational only and not a substitute for medical advice