IPL Auction Highlights: Cameron Green Becomes Third Most Expensive Player

Cameron Green's Record-Breaking Bid

The Indian Premier League (IPL) auction kicked off with excitement as Australian all-rounder Cameron Green was acquired by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a staggering Rs 25.20 crores. This makes him the third-most expensive player in IPL history and the highest-priced overseas player ever in the league, as the auction took place in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The bidding war initially involved Rajasthan Royals and KKR, with the Royals withdrawing at around Rs 13 crores. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) then entered the fray, pushing the bid beyond Rs 20 crores. CSK's final bid was Rs 25 crores, but KKR clinched the deal with their bid of Rs 25.20 crores. Green has impressive stats, having scored 521 runs in 21 T20I matches at an average of 32.56 and a strike rate of 160.30, along with 12 wickets at an average of 23.35. In total, he has amassed 1,334 runs in 63 T20 matches, averaging 33.35 with a strike rate of 151.07, including a century and seven fifties.

David Miller Signs with Delhi Capitals

In another significant move, South African batsman David Miller joined Delhi Capitals (DC) for his base price of Rs 2 crores. Over his T20I career, Miller has accumulated 2,612 runs in 132 matches, averaging 33.06 with a strike rate exceeding 140, which includes two centuries and eight fifties. In total, he has scored 11,497 runs in 539 T20 matches at an average of 35.05, with four centuries and 50 fifties. In the IPL, he has played 141 matches for teams like PBKS, RR, GT, and LSG, scoring 3,077 runs at an average of 35.77. Last season, however, he struggled, managing only 153 runs in 11 innings.

Notable Players Remain Unsold

Several notable players did not find buyers during the auction. Australian player Jake Fraser McGurk, who had a disappointing season with Delhi Capitals, went unsold after scoring just 55 runs in six innings. Similarly, New Zealand opener Devon Conway, a key player for CSK and part of their 2023 championship team, also went unsold after a lackluster performance last season, where he scored 169 runs in six innings.

Additionally, domestic stars like Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan were surprisingly overlooked. Shaw, who had a decent run in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this year, scoring 183 runs in seven matches, went unsold again after a similar fate last season. Sarfaraz, who has scored 585 runs in 50 IPL matches, also failed to attract bids despite his strong performance in the recent SMAT, where he scored 329 runs in seven matches.