Cameron Green Sets IPL 2026 Auction Record with ₹25.20 Crore Deal

IPL 2026 Auction Highlights

In a remarkable turn of events at the IPL 2026 mini-auction held at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, Australian all-rounder Cameron Green emerged as the highest-paid player, securing a staggering ₹25.20 crore deal with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). This acquisition surpasses the previous record held by his compatriot Mitchell Starc, who was bought by KKR for ₹24.75 crore during the IPL 2024 auction.

Initially registered as a batter due to an oversight by his manager, Green's new contract marks a significant milestone in his career. He made his IPL debut in the 2023 season when the Mumbai Indians acquired him for ₹17.5 crore, making him the second-most-expensive overseas player in IPL history and the priciest Australian player at that time. After a stint with the Mumbai Indians, he played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2024, where he scored 255 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 143.25 and took 10 wickets in 13 matches with an economy rate of 8.61.

In other auction news, South African David Miller was signed by Delhi Capitals for his base price of ₹2 crore. However, notable players such as India's Prithvi Shaw, Sarfaraz Khan, New Zealand's Devon Conway, and Australia's Jake Fraser-McGurk went unsold.

The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) also made headlines by acquiring Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga for ₹2 crore, while RCB secured Venkatesh Iyer for ₹7 crore. Other capped all-rounders, including England's Gus Atkinson, India's Deepak Hooda, New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra, and South Africa's Wiaan Mulder, did not find buyers.

This year's auction saw a total of 1390 players register, with 350 shortlisted, including 240 Indian and 110 overseas players. The roster features 224 uncapped Indian players and 14 uncapped overseas players, promising a wealth of fresh talent.