IPL 2026 auction Fierce bidding wars erupted with the franchise raking in over ₹237 crore in 77 slots for 369 players at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Kolkata Knight Riders They secured the two best buys early, leading the spending with a purse of ₹64.3 crore. Chennai Super Kings clearly overwhelmed by the high investment in talent. Surprise packages like unknown local stars fetching crore-plus deals have overshadowed some established names, signaling a shift towards youth and potential.
Cameron Green breaks record with multi-crore deal in IPL 2026 auction
The headline story so far has been to bring down the roof for KKR Cameron Greenoutbid multiple franchises to sell the Australian all-rounder for ₹ 25.20 crore, making him the costliest overseas acquisition in IPL history. The move signals a tactical shift, with KKR clearly looking at Green as a three-dimensional cornerstone who can bat in the top order, move quickly in the middle and finish games, replacing years of patchwork on his balance sheet with a premium package.
Another big shocker was CSK’s decision to aggressively go after the Indian talent by spending ₹ 14.20 crore each on their top-order batter. Karthik Sharma and comprehensive Prashant Veerboth signed from a base of just ₹30 lakh. For a franchise with a long track record of support and continuity, putting in nearly ₹ 30 crore on two relatively unknown local players underlines how highly their scouting team values this new generation.
Among the most emotional subplots is the comprehensive rise of Jammu and Kashmir Augib NabiConverting a base of ₹30 lakh to a jackpot of ₹8.40 crore , Capitals of Delhi after a fierce four-way bidding war. His selection reflects a premium on the Indian seam bowling all-rounder and continues the trend of IPL auctions extracting stories from India’s cricketing hinterland. Gujarat TitansA late hit for ‘ Jason Holder ₹7 crore and Rajasthan RoyalsEstimated cost to non-expenditure scam of ₹ 7.20 crore Ravi Bishnoifurther highlight how teams are still willing to pay top dollar for specific skill sets, even if the form curves are uneven.
10 Most Expensive Buys of IPL 2026 Auction
| Rank | Player | Team | Kind | Base (Cr) | Sold (Cr) | Basic analysis |
| 1 | Cameron Green | KKR | BAT/AR | 2.00 | 25.20 | Australian all-rounder holding overseas record Mitchell Starc‘s 24.75 Cr mark; amassed 707 IPL runs with 16 wickets in 29 games at 153.6 SR, combined with average power (top 100) and seam help (econ 8.61); KKR looks at him Andre Russell although the new rules limit his earnings to 18 Cr with welfare surplus, heir for batting and pace depth rather than death. . |
| 2 | Matheesha Pathirana | KKR | BOWL | 2.00 | 18.00 | The raw pace of the Sri Lankan spinner hit the limit outside the maximum; 19 IPL wickets in 11 outings at an average of 17.10 highlights the yorker’s lethality (best 4/28); KKR pair him with Green for a fearsome attack, plucking it from LSG’s hands to aid the demise in the post-Starc bowling period. . |
| 3 | Karthik Sharma | CSK | BAT | 0.30 | 14.20 | 19-year-old Rajasthan wicketkeeper-batsman Syed Mushtaq Ali’s blast (133 runs, 160+ SR) untitled batting record; 334 T20 runs on 162.92 SR signal which ends firepower; CSK are betting on medium pace and glove stock in the mold of Dhoni. . |
| 4 | Prashant Veer | CSK | AR | 0.30 | 14.20 | The 20-year-old spin all-rounder from Uttar Pradesh (780 FC at 45.88 avg, 30 wickets; T20 runs at 420 135 SR) caused a CSK frenzy; the highest-ever non-cap, he offers left-arm spin variety and lower-order batting to rebuild Ruturaj. . |
| 5 | Liam Livingstone | SRH | AR | 2.00 | 13.00 | The English powerhouse’s IPL legacy (1051 runs in 49 games, 182 SR peak) includes 437 runs in 2022 blitzes; 13 wickets add spin-off-spin utility; SRH target top-order aggression to complete Head-Abhishek openers. . |
| 6 | Mustafizur Rahman | KKR | BOWL | 2.00 | 9.20 | The Bangladeshi cutter’s proven IPL nous (47 wickets at 8.68 econ) returns to the champions; middle management suits Eden spin track; KKR form a seam trio with Pathirana-Green. . |
| 7 | Josh English | LSG | BAT | 2.00 | 8.60 | Australian goalkeeper IPL cams (42 max 73 off) showcase 162 SR; international T20I strength adds stability; Looking for LSG Nicholas Pooran alternative to explosive starters. . |
| 8 | Augib Nabi | DC | AR | 0.30 | 8.40 | The emerging Indian all-rounder highlights a rising pace-spin combination; DC bolsters the middle order with raw potential among the Axar-led core. . |
| 9 | Ravi Bishnoi | RR | BOWL | 2.00 | 7.20 | Legspin’s 7.20 Cr revival post-mock hype; cannabis changes suit Jaipur; RR reinforces surrounding nets Yuzvendra Chahal. . |
| 10 | Jason Holder | GT | AR | 2.00 | 7.00 | The West Indies veteran’s experience (global T20 hauls) helps Gill’s youth; death bowling and low-order cameos suit the Titans’ balance. |
