Mumbai Indians' Akash Ambani Explains Bidding for Cameron Green in IPL 2026 Auction
Mumbai Indians' Strategic Move in IPL Auction
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 gesture of respect towards Green.
Cameron Green has now become the third-most expensive player in IPL history and holds the record for the highest price paid for an overseas player in the league. He was acquired by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for an astonishing Rs 25.20 crore. The bidding process saw Rajasthan Royals and KKR engaged in a fierce competition, with the Royals withdrawing at around Rs 13 crores. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) then escalated the bid beyond Rs 20 crores, ultimately placing a bid of Rs 25 crores, which KKR surpassed to secure Green.
Previously, Green played for MI and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the 2023 and 2024 IPL seasons, amassing 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 the last auction due to an injury.
Reason Behind MI's Bid for Green
"It was a small homage to him. His first IPL team was Mumbai Indians. We understood that he was beyond our budget this auction, but we wanted to convey that we value him and will always consider him in future auctions," Akash Ambani stated, as reported by a sports news outlet.
MI's Contentment with Current Squad
Despite a limited budget at the auction, Akash Ambani expressed satisfaction with the team's composition. He remarked, "We are very pleased with our squad. This auction presented a unique challenge, as it was the lowest budget we have ever had. It reflects our balanced team structure. We only needed to fill a couple of gaps, and we are happy with our selections, with just one more to finalize."
"Atharva Ankolekar, a local talent, was a priority for us to maintain our Mumbai connection. We also traded for Shardul, who is leading the Mumbai team. Considering we play seven matches at Wankhede, this was a crucial aspect of our strategy. 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 will be our year. We believe we have a complete and competitive squad," Ambani added.
Franchise Spending Insights
Hemang Badani, coach of Delhi Capitals, also discussed the financial dynamics of the auction. He noted, "The salary cap increases annually, and every team must allocate their budget accordingly. With a current cap of 120 crores, multiplied by ten, that’s the amount teams are expected to spend. No team wants to save money; they all aim to invest in acquiring the players they desire."