IPL Mini Auction 2026: Why Cameron Green will get only Rs 18 cr despite record Rs 25.20 cr KKR bid

Australian all-rounder Cameron Green etched his name into IPL history after becoming the most expensive overseas player ever at an auction. The Kolkata Knight Riders secured Green for a staggering Rs 25.20 crore following a fierce bidding contest involving the Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings.

The previous record for the highest-priced overseas player was held by fellow Australian Mitchell Starc, who was picked up by KKR for Rs 24.75 crore at the IPL 2024 auction. 

In the overall rankings, however, Green still trails Indian stars Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer. Pant remains the most expensive player in IPL history after being bought by the Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 27 crore in the IPL 2025 auction, while the Punjab Kings spent Rs 26.75 crore on Shreyas Iyer in the same year.

Also Read: IPL Mini Auction 2026: Cameron Green becomes IPL’s costliest overseas player, goes to KKR for 25.20 crore

Despite crossing the Rs 25 crore mark in bidding, Green will earn Rs 18 crore (approximately USD 1.9 million) for the IPL 2026 season. This is due to IPL regulations, which treat the auction bid amount and the player’s actual salary separately, with any excess adjusted under the “maximum-fee” rule.

As per this rule, an overseas player’s salary at a mini auction is capped at the lower of two figures: the highest retention slab of Rs 18 crore or the highest amount paid at the previous mega auction, which in this case was Rs 27 crore for Rishabh Pant.