Australian all-rounder Cameron Green lived up to his billing as the most sought after player IPL 2026 mini auctionsparking an explosive bidding war that broke records. Starting at a base price of ₹ 2.00 crore, the bidding saw intense participation. Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals in the face of two financial heavyweights, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK)took center stage.
The battle between the two biggest purses grew rapidly, with Green’s price crossing the ₹20 crore mark, resulting in a historic acquisition. With their huge budget, KKR secured the all-rounder for a final hammer price of ₹25.20 crore, making him the most expensive overseas player in IPL history and the third most expensive player overall. This significant acquisition addresses KKR’s long-standing need for a premium, high-impact seam-bowling all-rounder in their squad.
IPL 2026 mini-auction: Record-breaking bidding war between KKR and CSK for Cameron Green
The bid for Green was the defining moment of the IPL 2026 auction, prompting a fierce competition that immediately confirmed his huge pre-auction hype. Bidding started quickly, with Mumbai and then Rajasthan pushing the price to Rs 13.40 crore before pulling back, unable to match the rising stakes. The real battle erupted when Chennai entered the fray and a head-to-head clash with Kolkata ensued.
With KKR boasting the biggest purse (64.30 crore) and CSK the second biggest purse (43.40 crore), the stage is set for an epic financial duel for the Australian star’s services. The two franchises exchanged bids 45 times, pushing the price past the Rs 20 crore mark, where the bidding slowed down a bit but the determination remained firm. In the end, KKR prevailed and sealed the deal for Rs 25.20 crore, which beat the previous record for a foreign player and established Green’s unparalleled value in the league.
Also READ: IPL 2026 Auction: Owners and CEO of all franchises
IPL 2026 Mini Auction: Green became the most expensive overseas player in the IPL
Green’s final auction price of Rs 25.20 crore not only made him KKR’s most expensive player ever, but also earned him the crown of the most expensive overseas purchase in Indian Premier League history. The figure comfortably eclipsed the previous record by an overseas player, reflecting his exceptionally valuable franchise spot in his special, high-impact skill set: a high-quality batter capable of delivering crucial medium-pace overs.
Crucially, Green’s bid of 25.20 million officially broke the record set by his Australian teammate. Mitchell StarcBought by KKR for ₹24.75 crore in 2024 auction. This latest bidding frenzy showcases the increased financial stakes for elite all-rounders, especially in the T20 format.
important to note IPL’s new rule regarding overseas players: While Green’s final price was ₹ 25.20 crore, the mini-auction capped the maximum he could have been paid at ₹ 18 crore, which was the highest retainer for an Indian player in the previous cycle. The remaining amount of ₹ 7.20 crore will be transferred to the BCCI for player welfare initiatives, but the full amount of the proposal will be deducted from KKR’s purse.
Here’s how the fans reacted:
Well done, 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 up to 28-29 Crores, they missed a trick here. 🥺
— Bhawana (@cricbhawana) December 16, 2025
I feel like we could have made a few more offers for Green, but anyway, it’s clear what happened.
— Heisenberg ☢ (@internetumpire) December 16, 2025
Introducing Kolkata’s brand new GREEN initiative 😉💜 pic.twitter.com/1lBJ7NTNPx
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) December 16, 2025
Thanks for your small but impactful contribution to RCBz, The streets won’t forget you, Cameron Green ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Yz4G78QcO0
— Kevin (@imkevin149) December 16, 2025
Cameron Green for just 25cr is surprising considering most people thought he would earn more than 30cr and become the most expensive IPL player of all time. This quick exit from CSK shows that he is not our top priority as any sane fan would know after watching…
— Yash (@yxshh27) December 16, 2025
Hi Cameron, the signal is now G̶r̶e̶e̶n̶ Purple! 🤑#IPL2026Auction pic.twitter.com/Ae3Lv6ojX8
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) December 16, 2025
💰 INR 25.20 Crore 🤯🤯
The third most expensive player in history #TATAIPL auction! 🔨
Will play for Cameron Green @KKRiders 💜#TATAIPLAauction pic.twitter.com/c0ErBPWHju
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) December 16, 2025
We are ready for Cameron Green 🔥
— KKR Caravan (@KkrKaravan) December 16, 2025
Cameron Green became the costliest overseas buy in IPL history as KKR secured him for a staggering ₹25.20 crore. #CameronGreen #KKR #IPL2026 #IPLAuction #australia #KolkataKnights pic.twitter.com/wK5GQ5EqrK
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) December 16, 2025
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