Cameron Green headlined the 2026 Indian Premier League auction, becoming the most expensive overseas player in the tournament’s history and setting the tone for a mixed night for Australian cricketers as franchises weighed proven pedigree against form, fitness and balance.
The Australian all-rounder was snapped up by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹25.2 crore (about A$4.2 million) after a spirited bidding contest with Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings. The price eclipsed the previous overseas record set by fellow Australian Mitchell Starc, also with KKR, reinforcing the premium placed on elite Australian fast-bowling all-rounders in the world’s richest T20 league.
Despite the headline figure, Green will pocket closer to A$3 million. Under a new IPL regulation, payments to overseas players are capped at ₹18 crore, with the excess from KKR’s winning bid flowing to the Board of Control for Cricket in India for player development and welfare. The 26-year-old received confirmation of the deal while preparing to represent Australia in the Ashes, adding a significant off-field boost ahead of the marquee series.
Green’s value was driven by both performance and versatility. Although initially listed as a batter due to an administrative error, he later confirmed he was fully fit to bowl after back surgery, prompting franchises to push bidding well beyond the new cap. Across 29 IPL matches, Green has averaged 41.6 with the bat at a strike rate above 153, including a century, while also contributing regularly with the ball. He previously represented Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and missed the 2025 season due to injury.
While Green dominated the auction narrative, the night produced sharply contrasting outcomes for other Australians. Josh Inglis secured a lucrative deal with Lucknow Super Giants, while Ben Dwarshuis and emerging all-rounder Cooper Connolly were picked up by Punjab Kings. Matt Short landed at Chennai, and Jack Edwards was signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad as the only uncapped overseas recruit.
In stark contrast, veteran star Steve Smith endured another disappointing auction, remaining unsold after no franchise requested to bid for him. It marked the third time Smith has missed out since last appearing in the IPL in 2021, despite his stated ambition to return to top-level T20 cricket ahead of the LA28 Olympic cycle.
Several other Australians were also overlooked, highlighting the increasingly unforgiving nature of the mini-auction format, where availability, role clarity and recent form often outweigh reputation. At the same time, a number of Australians will return in retained roles, including Starc at Delhi Capitals, Pat Cummins and Travis Head at Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Josh Hazlewood at Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
By the close of the auction, 16 Australians had secured places across IPL squads for the 2026 season, underscoring the enduring demand for Australian talent even as new financial rules reshape how much of the auction windfall actually reaches the players. The tournament begins on March 26, with Green set to carry both record expectations and national interest into his new chapter with Kolkata.
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