IPL Auction Shock: Cameron Green Becomes Most Expensive Overseas Player Ever

The IPL 2026 auction kicked off with a massive record-breaking bid. Australian all-rounder Cameron Green was sold to the Kolkata Knight Riders for a staggering Rs 25.20 crores. This makes him the most expensive overseas player in the history of the tournament. Meanwhile, several other big names, including some veteran batters, found no takers during the event.

Key Points: Cameron Green Sold to KKR for Rs 25.20 Crores in IPL 2026 Auction

  • KKR won a fierce bidding war against CSK and Rajasthan Royals for Green
  • Green's IPL record includes 707 runs and 16 wickets over two seasons
  • Veteran David Miller was bought by Delhi Capitals for his base price
  • Notable players like Jake Fraser-McGurk and Prithvi Shaw went unsold
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IPL 2026 Auction: Cameron Green becomes most expensive overseas player ever, goes to KKR for Rs 25.20 crores

Australian all-rounder Cameron Green makes IPL history, sold to Kolkata Knight Riders for a record Rs 25.20 crores, becoming the most expensive overseas player ever.

"CSK bid Rs 25 crores, and KKR followed it with a 25.20 crores bid and won the war. - Auction Report"

Abu Dhabi, December 16

The Indian Premier League (IPL) auction was off to a fantastic start as Australian all-rounder Cameron Green was sold to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for Rs 25.20 crores, becoming the third-most expensive player in the league's history and most expensive overseas player in the competition's history at Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Initially, it was Rajasthan Royals and the KKR that entered an intense bidding war, with the Royals opting out at around Rs 13 crores and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), which entered the bidding, taking the price way beyond Rs 20 crores. CSK bid Rs 25 crores, and KKR followed it with a 25.20 crores bid and won the war.

Green has scored 521 runs in 21 T20Is matches at an average of 32.56, SR of 160.30, with six fifties and has 12 wickets averaging 23.35. He has scored 1,334 runs in 63 T20S at an average of 33.35, SR of 151.07, with a century and seven fifties and taken 28 wickets averaging above 34.

The young Aussie all-rounder featured in the 2023 and 2024 IPL seasons with the Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), scoring 707 runs in 29 matches at an average of 41.58, with an SR of 153-plus, a century and two fifties and took 16 wickets at an average of above 41.5. But he did not participate in last season's auction due to injury.

Also, South Africa's veteran middle-order batter David Miller went to Delhi Capitals (DC) for his base price of Rs two crores. In South Africa, he has made 2,612 runs in 132 T20Is at an average of 33.06, with an SR above 140, including two centuries and eight fifties in 116 innings. 11,497 runs in 539 T20S at an average of 35.05, with an SR of over 138, with four centuries and 50 fifties.

The left-hander has scored 3,077 runs in 141 IPL matches for PBKS, RR, GT and LSG, at an average of 35.77 and a SR of over 138, with a century and 13 fifties. Last season with LSG, he was underwhelming, making just 153 runs in 11 innings at an average of 30.60, SR of over 127, with a best score of 27*.

Aussie dasher Jake Fraser McGurk, who represented Delhi Capitals (DC) for two seasons and had a poor last season with just 55 runs in six innings, went unsold. Also, New Zealand opener Devon Conway, a CSK mainstay for three seasons and an IPL winner with them in 2023, went unsold. Last season, he had a disappointing outing, scoring 169 runs in six innings at an average of 26.00, a SR of 131-plus, and two fifties.

Maharashtra batter Prithvi Shaw and Mumbai's Sarfaraz Khan went unsold despite their domestic heroics. Shaw also went unsold last season but has had a decent run in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) this year, scoring 183 runs in seven matches for Maharashtra at an average of 26.14, SR of 160-plus with two fifties. In the Ranji Trophy, he made 470 runs in five games at an average of 67.14, with a century and three fifties in seven innings and an SR of 92.33.

Also, Sarfaraz, who has scored 585 runs in 50 IPL matches for RCB, PBKS and DC with a fifty, looked in sublime touch in SMAT 2025/26, with 329 runs in seven matches at an average of 65.08, strike rate of over 203 with three fifties.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
While the big buys are exciting, I'm more shocked that Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan went unsold. They are tearing it up in domestic cricket! Are IPL scouts only looking at foreign names now? Our own young talent deserves a chance. 🤔
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Vikram M
CSK almost pulled off another masterstroke by pushing the bid so high. They made KKR pay a premium. Smart move by Dhoni and Fleming, even if they didn't get the player. The auction is as much about strategy as it is about buying.
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Sarah B
David Miller for just 2 crores to DC is an absolute steal! He's a proven match-winner. Last season was a blip. At that price, he could be the bargain of the auction. Great piece of business by Delhi.
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Rohit P
The money in IPL is insane, yaar. 25 crores for a player who missed last season due to injury. Hope he stays fit. KKR's middle order looks deadly now with Green. Can't wait for the season to start! 🏏
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Michael C
Respectfully, I think these astronomical sums for overseas players, while Indian talents like Shaw go unsold, highlights a slight imbalance. The IPL's core strength is showcasing Indian cricket. The balance needs careful thought.
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