IPL 2026 Auction: Kolkata Knight Riders Break Records to Sign Cameron Green
The IPL’s overall business value is estimated at $18.5 billion, according to US investment bank Houlihan Lokey.
NEW DELHI: The 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction made history as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) dominated the proceedings, securing Australian all-rounder Cameron Green in a headline-grabbing deal.
Green, one of the first players up for bidding in Abu Dhabi, sparked an intense bidding war before KKR successfully signed him for the 2026 season.
The price paid for Green surpassed the previous overseas record of INR 247.5 million, which KKR had spent on Mitchell Starc in the 2024 auction. However, due to the recent fall of the Indian rupee to a record low of over 90 to the US dollar, Starc’s value was still higher in dollar terms. Green was purchased for the equivalent of $2.77 million, compared with Starc’s $2.98 million.
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Under a new “maximum fee” rule, Green receives a capped salary of INR 180 million ($1.98 million), with the remainder of the amount going to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Green is now the third-most expensive player in IPL history, following India’s Rishabh Pant (INR 270 million) and Shreyas Iyer (INR 267.5 million).
The 26-year-old all-rounder has scored 707 runs in 29 IPL matches for Mumbai Indians and defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore. He missed the 2025 edition due to a back injury but is currently part of Australia’s Ashes squad against England.
The auction also produced surprises, with Australia’s Jake Fraser-McGurk and England all-rounder Liam Livingstone going unsold, though their names may reappear if franchises seek them later.
The IPL’s overall business value is estimated at $18.5 billion, according to US investment bank Houlihan Lokey.
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