Cameron Green has etched his name into IPL history after becoming the most expensive overseas player the league has ever seen, with Kolkata Knight Riders securing the Australian all-rounder for £2.06 million (A$4.17 million) at Tuesday’s auction for the 2026 season.
The bidding in Abu Dhabi quickly turned into a heavyweight duel between KKR and Chennai Super Kings, two franchises hunting for a high-impact overseas all-rounder. Kolkata eventually blinked last — and highest — to land the 26-year-old, making him the third-most expensive player overall in IPL history. Only Rishabh Pant (£2.2m/A$4.46m) and Shreyas Iyer (£2.18m/A$4.42m) have gone for more.
For Green, the news came while he was deep in Ashes mode, preparing for the third Test against England. It marked a remarkable return to the IPL spotlight after he missed the entire 2025 season following back surgery.
His price tag reflects what he has already shown in the league. Across 29 IPL matches, Green has piled up runs at an average of 41.6 and a strike rate of 153.7, including an unbeaten century. With the ball, he has chipped in with 16 wickets, operating at an economy rate just over nine — valuable versatility in a format that prizes flexibility.
Green’s deal also nudges past the previous overseas record held by his Australia teammate Mitchell Starc, who went for £1.97m (A$4m) to the same franchise ahead of the 2024 season. Starc, however, was not part of this year’s auction, having already been retained, along with Pat Cummins and Travis Head. Josh Hazlewood, despite injury concerns, was also kept on by defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Kolkata’s willingness to spend big was hardly surprising. Green had a stellar 2024 season with Mumbai Indians, scoring 452 runs at an average of 50.22 and a strike rate of 160.28, making him one of the most coveted names on the board. With both KKR and CSK light on overseas all-round options, the battle for his signature was inevitable.
Green was one of four players from Australia’s current Test squad to feature at the auction, though he was always tipped to command the biggest fee. Others, including Steve Smith, Josh Inglis and Beau Webster, were also in the mix, as part of a broader group of 19 Australians shortlisted.
With only 31 overseas slots available across the league and 110 foreign players up for selection, Green’s record-breaking payday stood out as one of the defining moments of the auction — and a clear statement of faith in his ability to shape matches in the world’s most lucrative T20 competition.
