Australian all-rounder Cameron Green became the most expensive overseas player ever signed at an Indian Premier League auction after Kolkata Knight Riders secured him for the 2026 season in Abu Dhabi.
Green was part of the opening set of players and immediately sparked intense bidding before Kolkata Knight Riders sealed the deal, surpassing the previous overseas record of INR247.5 million that the same franchise paid for Mitchell Starc at the 2024 auction.
While Green’s fee set a new benchmark in rupee terms, currency movements altered the comparison in dollar value, as India’s rupee has weakened to a record low beyond 90 against the US dollar this month. Green was purchased for the equivalent of $2.77 million, compared with $2.98 million spent on Starc at the time of his signing.
Under a newly introduced “maximum fee” rule, Green will personally receive a capped salary of INR180 million, or about $1.98 million, with the remaining amount transferred to the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
The 26-year-old now ranks as the third most expensive player overall in IPL auction history, behind Rishabh Pant, who fetched INR270 million, and Shreyas Iyer, signed for INR267.5 million.
Green has accumulated 707 runs in 29 IPL matches representing Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He missed the 2025 season due to a back injury but is currently involved in the Ashes series against England.
The auction also produced unexpected outcomes, with Australia’s Jake Fraser-McGurk and England all-rounder Liam Livingstone going unsold, although franchises may revisit their bids later in the process.
According to US investment bank Houlihan Lokey, the overall business valuation of the IPL currently stands at $18.5 billion.
