Australian cricket star Cameron Green has shattered records, becoming the most expensive overseas player ever purchased in the history of the Indian Premier League auction.
Record-Breaking Bid Secures Star All-Rounder
The 26-year-old all-rounder was the subject of a fierce bidding war during Tuesday's auction for the 2026 season. The Kolkata Knight Riders ultimately secured his signature for a staggering 252 million Indian rupees, equivalent to approximately $2.77 million. The final push saw them outbid the Chennai Super Kings to land the coveted player.
This monumental fee places Green as the third most expensive player in the entire history of the IPL auction. He sits behind only two Indian internationals: Rishabh Pant, who fetched 270 million rupees, and Shreyas Iyer, who went for 267.5 million.
From Surgery to a Mega-Money Move
The record-breaking sale comes after Green missed the entire 2025 IPL season. He was sidelined while recovering from back surgery. Interestingly, an administrative error initially saw him registered for the 2026 auction solely as a batter, a mistake Green attributed to his management.
Green is no stranger to the IPL, having previously featured for the Mumbai Indians and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The Kolkata Knight Riders, a three-time IPL champion franchise, will be his new home for the 2026 tournament, which is scheduled to run from late March to late May.
Ashes Duty Before IPL Payday
Green's immediate focus, however, remains on international duty. He has been named in Australia's playing XI for the third Ashes Test against England in Adelaide, which begins on Wednesday. Australia currently lead the series 2-0 after victories in Perth and Brisbane, meaning a win in Adelaide would secure the Ashes urn.
The talented all-rounder made his international debut in a Test against India in December 2020 and has since represented Australia in all three formats. His career highlights include being part of the Australian squad that won the World Test Championship in 2023 and the one-day World Cup later that same year.
While Australia reached the World Test Championship final again this year, they were defeated by South Africa at Lord's. During that match, Green struggled for runs while batting in an unfamiliar number three position. He has since returned to his preferred spot in the middle order and is now featuring in his second Ashes campaign, having also played in the drawn series in England in 2023.
