Australian cricket star Cameron Green has received a monumental pre-Test boost, becoming the most expensive overseas player in Indian Premier League history after a fierce bidding war.
Record-Breaking Bid for Green
The Kolkata Knight Riders secured the services of the 26-year-old allrounder for a staggering 252 million rupees ($4.17 million) at Tuesday's player auction for the 2026 season. The three-time champions engaged in an intense battle with the Chennai Super Kings before emerging victorious.
This landmark deal makes Green the third most expensive player in IPL history overall, sitting behind only Indian stars Rishabh Pant ($4.46m) and Shreyas Iyer ($4.42m). It also eclipses the previous record for an overseas player, set by his Australian teammate Mitch Starc at $4 million in 2024.
New Rules and Aussie Fortunes
Under new IPL regulations, Green's actual earnings are capped at just under $3 million, with the remainder of the fee paid by KKR going to the Indian cricket board (BCCI) to support player welfare initiatives.
The West Australian received the news of his lucrative signing while preparing for the third Test against England, which begins on Wednesday. His IPL experience includes stints with Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, though he missed the 2025 season following back surgery.
KKR's CEO Venky Mysore expressed his delight, stating, "He adds a lot to our team, especially with our new power coach Andre Russell. It's very nice to have a young allrounder. Him having had IPL experience, we know what he does with bat and ball. Couldn't be happier."
Smith Heads List of Unsold Australians
While Green's future was sealed early, the auction brought disappointment for several other Australian players. Steve Smith headed a list of Aussies who went unsold, with the stark revelation that no team even requested to bid on the former captain.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Inglis faced a nervous wait until nearly 2am Adelaide time before learning his fate, eventually being retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad. Smith's fruitless wait was even longer.
Other Australians who found no buyers included:
- Jake Fraser-McGurk
- Spencer Johnson
- Sean Abbott
- Jhye Richardson
- Jason Behrendorff
Despite these omissions, a strong contingent of 16 Australian players will feature in the 19th edition of the IPL, beginning March 26. Several others are involved in coaching roles, notably Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer.
Green's IPL statistics underscore his value: in 29 matches he has averaged 41.6 with the bat at a strike rate of 153.7, including a top score of 100 not out. With the ball, he has taken 16 wickets.
Other Australians secured deals during the auction, with Punjab Kings adding Ben Dwarshuis ($725,000) and Cooper Connolly ($330,000) under coach Ricky Ponting. Matt Short ($250,000) joined Chennai, while Hyderabad made Jack Edwards ($500,000) the only uncapped overseas hire.
Several big-name Australians were already retained by their franchises ahead of the auction, including Test captain Pat Cummins and Travis Head at Sunrisers Hyderabad, and the injured Josh Hazlewood at defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
