The IPL 2026 mini-auction on December 16 witnessed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) making seismic waves with two colossal overseas acquisitions, headlined by a record-shattering bid for Australian all-rounder Cameron Green.
Record Bid Meets New Regulation
KKR secured Cameron Green for a staggering ₹25.20 crore, a bid that officially made him the most expensive overseas player in the history of the Indian Premier League. In the overall expensive players' list, this places him third, behind only Rishabh Pant (₹27 crore to Lucknow Super Giants) and Shreyas Iyer (₹26.75 crore to Punjab Kings).
However, in a crucial twist, Green will not receive the full ₹25.20 crore. Due to a BCCI-mandated salary cap of ₹18 crore for overseas players in mini-auctions, Green's take-home salary is limited to that amount. The excess sum of ₹7.20 crore will be directed to the BCCI's Player Welfare Fund, though KKR's total auction purse is reduced by the full bid amount.
Strategic Signing and Squad Balance
KKR's second major purchase was Sri Lankan speedster Matheesha Pathirana, fetched for ₹18 crore, which was the second-highest price at the entire auction. Unlike Green's case, Pathirana will receive the entire ₹18 crore as it aligns perfectly with the newly instituted cap.
This salary cap rule, introduced before the IPL 2025 cycle and enforced again in 2026, aims to control inflationary bidding in mini-auctions and maintain financial parity. The BCCI's objective is twofold: to instill financial discipline among franchises and to ensure overseas stars do not earn significantly more than the top retained Indian players, whose maximum retention price is also pegged at ₹18 crore.
Green's Journey and Current Form
Cameron Green, who debuted in the IPL in 2023 with Mumbai Indians for ₹17.5 crore, has proven his worth as a dynamic all-rounder. His debut season saw him amass 452 runs at a strike rate of 160.28 and claim 6 wickets. After a trade to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he skipped the IPL 2025 mega-auction while recovering from a back injury.
Currently, Green is part of the Australian squad for the Ashes 2025, though his recent Test form has been modest, averaging 23.36 with the bat in 11 innings this year. His white-ball performances have been brighter, including a century in his last ODI against South Africa in August.
The KKR management, led by mentor Gautam Gambhir, has clearly invested in Green's high potential and X-factor, betting on him to be a cornerstone of their campaign despite the complex financial mechanics of the deal. This auction move signals KKR's aggressive intent to build a powerhouse team for the upcoming season.
