After being acquired by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for INR 25.20 crore (about AU$4.2 million), Cameron Green became the most expensive foreign player in IPL history.
The Australia all-rounder was the focus of fierce bidding between KKR and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Tuesday’s player auction for the 2026 season before the three-time winners bought him.
After India internationals Shreyas Iyer (AU$4.42m) and Rishabh Pant (AU$4.46m), Green rose to the third-highest IPL player overall.
A new IPL rule caps his earnings at slightly under AU$3 million, with KKR donating the remaining funds to the BCCI to support player welfare.
While getting ready for the third Test match against England, which begins on Wednesday, Green learnt of his lucrative contract.
However, Steven Smith was at the top of a list of Australians who were not sold; in his instance, no team asked to bid on him, therefore he never even came up for sale.
Josh Inglis had to wait until almost two in the morning Adelaide time to find out his fate, in contrast to Green, whose deal was among the first to be finalised. Smith waited even longer in vain.
According to KKR’s CEO Venky Mysore of Green, “He adds a lot to our team, especially with our new power coach Andre Russell. It’s very nice to have a young all-rounder.” “We are aware of his batsmanship because he has IPL experience. I’m extremely happy.
Green missed the 2025 season due to back surgery, however he had previously played for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI).
He has taken 16 wickets at 41.50 and an economy rate of 9.07 in 29 IPL games, while he has averaged 41.58 with the bat with a strike rate of 153.69 and a maximum score of 100 not out.
When purchased by KKR in 2024, Green’s price surpassed that of Australia teammate Mitchell Starc, who was valued at AU$4 million.
This year’s auction did not include Starc, who is currently with the Delhi Capitals (DC). Along with Travis Head and Pat Cummins, two teammates from the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) Test team, he was one of ten Australians already retained.
Unsurprisingly, defending champions RCB have kept Josh Hazlewood on despite his present injury.
They also hired four more Australians. Ben Dwarshuis (AU$725,000) and Cooper Connolly (AU$330,000) were signed to Ricky Ponting’s Punjab Kings’ roster of Australians. Jack Edwards ($500,000), an all-rounder from New South Wales, was the only uncapped foreign hire made by SRH after Matthew Short (AU$250,000) joined CSK.
With Ponting and Justin Langer among the coaching staff, the total number of Australian players participating in the 19th edition of the IPL, which starts on March 26, now stands at 16.
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