Aussie all-rounder Cameron Green made history at the IPL 2026 auction when Kolkata Knight Riders secured him for ₹25.20 crore. With this signing, Green joined the list of the most expensive players in IPL history and became the highest-priced overseas player, surpassing previous records held by Australia’s Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.
Green, 26, missed last season while recovering from back surgery. He made his IPL debut with the Mumbai Indians in 2023, scoring 452 runs, including an unbeaten 100 off 47 balls, and picking up six wickets. He then moved to Royal Challengers Bengaluru the following season, scoring 255 runs and taking 10 wickets from 13 matches. His all-around abilities sparked interest from multiple franchises.
Kolkata Knight Riders Outbid Chennai Super Kings to Sign Green:
Kolkata Knight Riders outbid Chennai Super Kings to secure Cameron Green’s services. Green entered the auction with a base price of ₹2 crore, but bids quickly skyrocketed as multiple teams joined the race.
The bidding started with the Mumbai Indians, followed by the Rajasthan Royals, beforethe KKR jumped in aggressively. Rajasthan and KKR battled it out, pushing the price up until the Royals bowed out at ₹13.60 crore. CSK then entered the contest, creating a tense face-off between the two champions.
In the end, KKR signed Green for ₹25.20 crore, making him the third most expensive player in IPL history, behind Rishabh Pant at ₹27 crore and Shreyas Iyer at ₹26.75 crore. KKR sees Green as a long-term match-winner who can contribute with bat, ball, and in the field.
Why Cameron Green Will Receive Only ₹18 Crore:
Although Green fetched a bid of ₹25.20 crore, he will receive a lower amount due to IPL rules. The governing council caps overseas players’ salaries at ₹18 crore, no matter how high the bidding goes.
The BCCI introduced this cap ahead of last year’s auction and has continued it for the mini-auction. The limit matches the top retention bracket from the previous mega auction, ensuring overseas players do not earn more than the highest allowed slab.
While Green will be paid only ₹18 crore, KKR must still spend the full ₹25.20 crore from its auction purse. Any amount above the cap will be redirected to the BCCI’s player welfare fund. This rule applies only to overseas players, not Indian cricketers.
Cameron Green Missed IPL 2025 Due to Back Injury:
Since making his IPL debut in 2023, Green has played 29 matches for the Mumbai Indians and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, scoring 707 runs and taking 16 wickets.
KKR now sees Green as a key player to fill the role previously held by Andre Russell, who retired before the auction. Russell will remain with the franchise as KKR’s power coach for the 2026 season.
Other Auction Highlights:
During the auction, David Miller also drew interest from several teams before the Delhi Capitals secured him.
The IPL 2026 season is scheduled to begin on March 26, with the final likely taking place on May 31.
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