Mumbai Indians' Akash Ambani Discusses Cameron Green's IPL Auction Bid
Mumbai Indians Honor Cameron Green in IPL Auction
Abu Dhabi [UAE], December 17: Akash Ambani, the owner of Mumbai Indians (MI), shared insights into the team's decision to bid for Australian all-rounder Cameron Green during the IPL 2026 auction held on Tuesday. He mentioned that the bid was a way to pay tribute to Green.
Cameron Green made headlines by becoming the third-most expensive player in IPL history and the highest-priced overseas player ever, fetching an impressive Rs 25.20 crore from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) during the auction.
The bidding process was intense, particularly between Rajasthan Royals and KKR, with the Royals stepping back at around Rs 13 crores. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) then escalated the bids beyond Rs 20 crores, ultimately placing a bid of Rs 25 crores, which KKR surpassed to secure Green.
Previously, the young Australian all-rounder played for Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the 2023 and 2024 IPL seasons, accumulating 707 runs in 29 matches at an average of 41.58 and a strike rate exceeding 153. He also took 16 wickets, averaging above 41.5. However, he missed last season's auction due to an injury.
Akash Ambani expressed, "This is a little homage to him. His first IPL team was Mumbai Indians. We knew he was out of our budget this auction, but we wanted to show him that we value him. Whenever Cam Green is in the auction, our paddle will go up for him," as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
He further stated that despite a limited budget, they are pleased with their team composition. "We are very satisfied with our squad. This auction presented a unique challenge, as it was the lowest purse we've had in 19 years. It reflects our balance, and we only needed to fill a couple of gaps. We are happy with our selections, with just one more to finalize."
Ambani also highlighted the importance of local talent, mentioning Atharva Ankolekar, a Mumbai native, and the trade of Shardul, who is currently captaining Mumbai. "We play seven games at Wankhede, which was crucial in our planning. We are excited to have Atharva and Danish, who represent Vidarbha. We haven't reached our peak in the last five years, but we hope this is our year. We believe we have a complete and competitive squad," he added.
Delhi Capitals coach Hemang Badani also commented on the auction spending, noting, "The salary cap increases annually, and every team must allocate that budget. With a current cap of 120 crores, multiplied by ten, teams are expected to spend accordingly. No team wants to save money; they all aim to acquire the players they desire."