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Cameron Green has broken the record for the highest priced overseas player in Indian Premier League history, bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders for £2.06m (A$4.17m).
At Tuesday’s player auction for the 2026 season, the Australia all-rounder was the subject of intense bidding between Kolkata and Chennai Super Kings before being bought by the three-time champions.
Green became the third most expensive IPL player overall, after Indian internationals Rishabh Pant (£2.2m/A$4.46m) and Shreyas Iyer (£2.18m/A$4.42m).
The 26-year-old, who previously played for Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru but missed the 2025 season after back surgery, received the news of his lucrative signing while preparing for the third Ashes Test against England.
In 29 IPL matches, Green has averaged 41.6 with the bat at a strike rate of 153.7, with a top score of 100 not out, while he has taken 16 wickets at 41.5 and an economy rate of 9.07.
The West Australian was one of four players in Australia’s Test squad to go under the hammer in Abu Dhabi in the auction, and was tipped for the biggest payday of the quartet by far.
His price eclipsed Australia teammate Mitchell Starc’s figure for 2024 (£1.97m/A$4m), when also bought by the Knight Riders.
Green scored 452 runs for Mumbai Indians at an average of 50.22 and a strike rate of 160.28 in 2024, so it was no surprise that Kolkata and Chennai – the two teams in most need of an overseas all-rounder – went head-to-head for his services.
Starc is not in this year’s auction. He is one of 10 Australians already retained, along with his Test teammates Pat Cummins and Travis Head. Josh Hazlewood, currently injured, has unsurprisingly also been retained by defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Steve Smith, Josh Inglis and Beau Webster were also up for grabs, among 19 Australians in total to have made the auction shortlist. With 31 overseas slots available and 110 foreign players listed, most will be left disappointed.
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