IPL 2026 Auction: Fans go wild as Cameron Green becomes the most expensive overseas player in league’s history

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The Australian all-rounder Cameron Green lived up to his billing as the most sought-after player in the IPL 2026 mini auction, igniting an explosive bidding war that shattered records. Starting from his base price of ₹2.00 crore, the bidding saw intense participation from Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals before the two financial heavyweights, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), took center stage.

The battle between the two biggest purses quickly escalated, driving Green’s price past the ₹20 crore mark and ultimately resulting in a historic purchase. KKR, with their massive budget, secured the versatile player for a final hammer price of ₹25.20 crore, making him the most expensive overseas player in IPL history, and the third-most expensive player overall. This significant acquisition addresses KKR’s long-standing need for a premium, high-impact seam-bowling all-rounder in their squad.

The bidding for Green was the defining moment of the IPL 2026 auction, immediately triggering a fierce contest that validated his immense pre-auction hype. The bidding commenced swiftly, starting with Mumbai and then Rajasthan, who pushed the price up to 13.40 crore before backing out, unable to match the rising stakes. The real battle ignited when Chennai entered the fray, setting up a head-to-head clash with Kolkata.

With KKR boasting the largest remaining purse (64.30 crore) and CSK holding the second largest (43.40 crore), the stage was set for an epic financial duel for the services of the Australian star. The two franchises exchanged bids 45 times, pushing the price far beyond the 20 crore threshold, where the bidding slowed slightly but the determination remained firm. Ultimately, KKR emerged victorious, sealing the deal for 25.20 crore, a figure that eclipsed the previous record for an overseas player, establishing Green’s unparalleled value in the league.

Also READ: IPL 2026 Auction: Owners and CEO of all franchises

Green’s final auction price of ₹25.20 crore not only made him KKR’s most expensive player ever but also crowned him the costliest overseas acquisition in the history of the Indian Premier League. This figure comfortably surpassed the previous record held by an overseas player, reflecting the extraordinary value franchises place on his specific, high-impact skillset: a high-quality batter who can provide crucial medium-fast overs.

Crucially, Green’s 25.20 crore bid officially broke the record set by his Australian teammate, Mitchell Starc, who was purchased by KKR in the 2024 auction for ₹24.75 crore. This latest bidding frenzy demonstrates the escalating financial stakes, particularly for elite all-rounders in the T20 format.

It is important to note the IPL’s new rule regarding overseas players: although Green’s final price was ₹ 25.20 crore, the maximum amount he can be paid for the mini-auction is capped at ₹ 18 crore, which was the highest retention slab for an Indian player in the previous cycle. The remaining amount of ₹ 7.20 crore will be remitted to the BCCI for player welfare initiatives, but the full bid amount is deducted from KKR’s purse.

Go well, Green bhai! 🫶

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) December 16, 2025

Cameron Green – third highest paid player in the IPL History. I think CSK should have gone till 28-29 Crores, they missed a trick here. 🥺

— Bhawana (@cricbhawana) December 16, 2025

I feel like we could have placed a few more bids for Green but the obvious ended up happening anyways.

— Heisenberg ☢ (@internetumpire) December 16, 2025

Presenting Kolkata's all-new GREEN initiative 😉💜

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) December 16, 2025

Thank you for your small but impactful contribution to RCBz, The streets wont forget you, Cameron Green ❤️

— Kevin (@imkevin149) December 16, 2025

Cameron Green for only 25 crs is kinda surprising considering how most people thought he'd get more than 30 Cr and become the most expensive IPL player of all time. CSK pulling out that quick shows how he wasn't our top priority as any sane fan would know after looking at our…

— yash (@yxshh27) December 16, 2025

Hello Cameron, the signal is now G̶r̶e̶e̶n̶ Purple! 🤑#IPL2026Auction

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) December 16, 2025

💰 INR 25.20 Crore 🤯🤯

The third most expensive player in the history of #TATAIPL auction! 🔨

Cameron Green will play for @KKRiders 💜#TATAIPLAuction

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) December 16, 2025

We are in for Cameron Green 🔥

— KKR Karavan (@KkrKaravan) December 16, 2025

Cameron Green becomes the costliest overseas buy in IPL history as KKR secure him for a staggering ₹25.20 crore #CameronGreen #KKR #IPL2026 #IPLAuction #australia #KolkataKnightRiders

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) December 16, 2025

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