Australia all-rounder Cameron Green became the most expensive overseas player in Indian Premier League history after being bought for 252 million rupees at Tuesday’s auction in Abu Dhabi.
Green’s name, part of the first batch of auctioned players, sparked a fierce bidding war, with former champions Kolkata Knight Riders ultimately securing him for the 2026 season. The 252 million rupees price tag surpassed the previous overseas record of 247.5 million rupees paid for Mitchell Starc in the 2024 auction. However, due to fluctuations in the rupee-dollar exchange rate—India’s currency recently falling to over 90 against the US dollar—Starc’s value at the time was higher in dollar terms. Green’s purchase amounts to $2.77 million, compared to Starc’s $2.98 million.
Under the IPL’s new “maximum fee” rule, Green has a capped salary of 180 million rupees($1.98 million), with the remainder directed to the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
Green is now the third most expensive player in IPL history, behind India’s Rishabh Pant (270 million rupees) and Shreyas Iyer (267.5 million rupees). At 26, Green has scored 707 runs in 29 IPL matches representing Mumbai Indians and defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore. He missed the 2025 season due to a back injury but is currently participating in the Ashes against England.
The auction also saw some surprises, with Australia’s Jake Fraser-McGurk and England all-rounder Liam Livingstone going unsold. Their names may reappear if franchises show renewed interest.
The IPL’s business value has been estimated at $18.5 billion, according to US investment bank Houlihan Lokey.
