The IPL 2026 Mini-Auction in Abu Dhabi has delivered a historic moment early in the day. Australian all-rounder Cameron Green has become the most expensive overseas player in IPL history, with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) securing his services for a staggering ₹25.20 crore.
Despite the massive bid, under new BCCI regulations, Green’s actual salary is capped at ₹18 crore (matching the highest retention slab), with the remaining ₹7.20 crore going to the BCCI’s player welfare fund.
🔨 Key Auction Results (As of 3:10 PM IST)
The auction opened with a mix of high-intensity bidding wars and surprising snubs for established Indian stars.
Sold Players
| Player | Team | Price |
| Cameron Green (AUS) | Kolkata Knight Riders | ₹25.20 Crore |
| Wanindu Hasaranga (SL) | Lucknow Super Giants | ₹2.00 Crore |
| David Miller (SA) | Delhi Capitals | ₹2.00 Crore |
Unsold Players (Set 1 & 2)
Several high-profile names failed to find bidders in the initial rounds:
- Prithvi Shaw (India) — Base Price: ₹75 Lakh
- Sarfaraz Khan (India) — Base Price: ₹75 Lakh
- Jake Fraser-McGurk (Australia) — Base Price: ₹2 Crore
- Devon Conway (New Zealand) — Base Price: ₹2 Crore
- Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand) — Base Price: ₹2 Crore
- Liam Livingstone (England) — Base Price: ₹2 Crore
- Gus Atkinson (England) — Base Price: ₹2 Crore
🔍 Auction Insights & Trends
- The “KKR vs CSK” Battle: As predicted, KKR and Chennai Super Kings were the most active in the early rounds, possessing the largest purses. KKR’s aggressive pursuit of Green suggests a strategy to fill the void left by Andre Russell.
- The Domestic Snub: The fact that Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan went unsold in the first set was the afternoon’s biggest shock. However, they may still be picked up during the “accelerated” phase later today if teams have remaining slots and budget.
- Mumbai Indians’ Strategy: With a minimal purse of ₹2.75 crore, MI has remained a silent observer so far, likely waiting for the uncapped Indian player sets to secure budget-friendly talent.
Upcoming Players to Watch:
The auction is now moving into Set 3, featuring wicketkeepers and high-value Indian bowlers. Bidding wars are expected for Ravi Bishnoi, Venkatesh Iyer, and Quinton de Kock.