IPL 2026 auction: Fans go wild as Cameron Green becomes most expensive foreign player in league history
The Australian all-rounder Cameron Green living up to his reputation as the most sought-after player in the IPL 2026 mini-auctionsparking an explosive bidding war that shattered records. From its base price of ₹2.00 crore, the auction saw intense participation from Mumbai Indians And Rajasthan Royals in front of the two heavyweights of finance, Calcutta Knights Riders (KKR) And Chennai Super Kings (CSK)took center stage.
The battle between the two biggest exchanges quickly intensified, pushing Green’s price past the ₹20 crore mark and ultimately resulting in a historic purchase. KKR, with its huge budget, got the all-rounder for a final hammer price of ₹25.20 crore, making him the most expensive foreign player in the history of the IPL and the third most expensive player overall. This significant acquisition fulfills KKR’s long-standing need for a high-quality, high-impact all-rounder in their team.
IPL 2026 mini-auction: Record bidding war for Cameron Green between KKR and CSK
The bidding for Green was the defining moment of the IPL 2026 auction, immediately sparking a fierce competition that validated his immense pre-auction hype. The bidding began quickly, starting with Mumbai and then Rajasthan, which pushed the price up to 13.40 crore before withdrawing, unable to match the rising stakes. The real battle broke out when Chennai entered the fray, setting up a head-to-head clash with Kolkata.
With KKR owning the largest remaining purse (64.30 crores) and CSK holding the second largest (43.40 crores), the stage was set for an epic financial duel for the Australian star’s services. The two franchises exchanged bids 45 times, pushing the price well beyond the 20 crore threshold, where the bidding slowed slightly but the resolve remained firm. In the end, KKR emerged victorious, sealing the deal for 25.20 crores, a figure that eclipsed the previous record for a foreign player, establishing Green’s unrivaled value in the league.
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IPL 2026 mini-auction: Green becomes most expensive foreign player in IPL
Green’s final auction price of ₹25.20 crore not only made him KKR’s most expensive player but also crowned him the most expensive overseas acquisition in the history of the Indian Premier League. This figure far exceeds the previous record held by a foreign player, reflecting the extraordinary value that franchises place on his specific high-impact skillset: a high-quality hitter capable of delivering crucial overs at medium pace.
Importantly, Green’s 25.20 crore bid officially broke the record set by his Australian teammate, Mitchell Starcwhich was purchased by KKR in the 2024 auction for ₹24.75 crore. This latest bidding frenzy demonstrates the escalating financial stakes, particularly for the elite all-rounders in the T20 format.
It is important to note the New IPL rule regarding foreign players: Although Green’s final price is ₹25.20 crore, the maximum amount he can receive for the mini-auction is capped at ₹18 crore, which was the highest retention slab for an Indian player in the previous cycle. The remaining amount of ₹7.20 crore will be given to the BCCI for player welfare initiatives, but the entire bid amount is deducted from KKR’s purse.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Go ahead, Green bhai! 🫶 pic.twitter.com/4H77VPR2Uo
– Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) December 16, 2025
Cameron Green – third highest paid player in IPL history. I think CSK should have gone to 28-29 Crores, they missed a trick here. 🥺
– Bhawana (@cricbhawana) December 16, 2025
I feel like we could have placed a few more offers on Green, but the obvious still ended up happening.
– Heisenberg ☢ (@internetumpire) December 16, 2025
Introducing Calcutta’s brand new GREEN initiative 😉💜 pic.twitter.com/1lBJ7NTNPx
– CalcuttaKnightRiders (@KKRiders) December 16, 2025
Thank you for your small but important contribution to RCBz, The streets will not forget you, Cameron Green ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Yz4G78QcO0
– Kevin (@imkevin149) December 16, 2025
Cameron Green for just 25 crs is rather surprising considering most people thought he would get over 30 crs and become the most expensive IPL player of all time. CSK coming out this quick shows how he wasn’t our top priority, as any sane fan would know after watching our…
– yeah (@yxshh27) December 16, 2025
Hello Cameron, the signal is now G̶r̶e̶e̶n̶ Purple! 🤑#IPL2026Auctions pic.twitter.com/Ae3Lv6ojX8
– Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) December 16, 2025
💰 INR 25.20 crores 🤯🤯
The third most expensive player in the history of #TATAIPL auction! 🔨
Cameron Green will play for @KKRiders 💜#TATAIPLAuction pic.twitter.com/c0ErBPWHju
– IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) December 16, 2025
We are for Cameron Green 🔥
– KKR Karavan (@KkrKaravan) December 16, 2025
Cameron Green becomes costliest overseas buy in IPL history as KKR secures him for a staggering ₹25.20 crore #CameronGreen #KKR #IPL2026 #IPLAuction #Australia #KolkataKnightRiders pic.twitter.com/wK5GQ5EqrK
– CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) December 16, 2025
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