Cameron Green has discovered immediately that a hefty price tag is no guarantee of success in the Indian Premier League as his eagerly-awaited debut with the Mumbai Indians proved a chastening experience.
Australia's most expensive recruit in the history of the IPL, snapped up at the auction for $3.15 million, got bowled for just five off four balls and was then clouted for 30 runs off his two overs as Mumbai were caned by eight wickets by Virat Kohli-inspired Royal Challengers Bangalore in Bengaluru.
Even Green could evidently even see the funny side of Sunday's merciless baptism as his final tormentor proved to be fellow Aussie, IPL veteran Glenn Maxwell, who smashed him for two sixes in a row in the denouement.
After Kohli had knocked off the winning runs in RCB's 2-161 with his fifth six in a superb knock of 82no, the 23-year-old new boy could be seen chuckling about the experience with Maxwell, who'd even managed to swat his young mate almost blindly into the crowd for the second six.
When Mumbai batted, Green was in at first wicket down in the third over, but he was just as quickly walking off in the fourth 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 Maxwell's lone over which went for 16 runs.
With the ball, Green then got the treatment from RCB's inspired captain Faf du Plessis, who smacked him for a six and two fours in his first IPL over before Maxwell went to town on him later, although the allrounder did at least pick up his maiden wicket, getting Dinesh Karthik caight in the deep.
Du Plessis was voted player of the match after his blistering 73 off 43 balls also featured him giving another Australian, left-armer Jason Behrendorff (3-0-37-0) some brutal treatment.
RCB's South African skipper, who hit six sixes, and Kohli put on 148 for the opening wicket to ensure the victory was never in doubt.
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.
