The IPL 2026 auction delivered high drama, record-breaking deals, and a clear shift in focus toward young Indian talent. Australian allrounder Cameron Green emerged as the biggest headline, while uncapped domestic players rewrote history with astonishing price tags.
Cameron Green Sets New IPL Auction Records for KKR
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made history by signing Cameron Green for a staggering INR 25.20 crore (approximately $2.8 million), making him the third-most expensive player ever sold at an IPL auction and the most expensive overseas player in league history. Only Rishabh Pant (INR 27 crore) and Shreyas Iyer (INR 26.75 crore) have gone for more.
KKR faced stiff competition from Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) during a bidding war that lasted over ten minutes. Mumbai Indians briefly entered the fray but were forced to bow out early due to their limited purse. Despite the headline figure, Green will receive INR 18 crore due to the IPL’s overseas player salary cap at mini-auctions, with the remaining INR 7.2 crore going to the BCCI’s player welfare fund.
Green’s IPL journey began in 2023 with Mumbai Indians, where he scored 452 runs at a strike rate of 160.28 and took six wickets. After a season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2024, he skipped the IPL 2025 mega auction while recovering from a back injury, making his return in 2026 all the more significant.
KKR continued their aggressive spending by signing Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana for INR 18 crore, the second-highest price of the auction. Pathirana, previously released by CSK, attracted strong interest from Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants before KKR sealed the deal.
Uncapped Indian Players Steal the Spotlight at IPL 2026 Auction
While marquee overseas names drew attention, the true stars of the auction were India’s uncapped youngsters. Chennai Super Kings stunned everyone by signing 20-year-old left-arm spin allrounder Prashant Veer and 19-year-old wicketkeeper Kartik Sharma for INR 14.2 crore each. Their deals shattered the previous record for the most expensive uncapped Indian player, held by Avesh Khan at INR 10 crore since 2022.
Delhi Capitals also invested heavily in emerging talent, snapping up Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi for INR 8.4 crore. These signings underlined the growing confidence franchises have in young domestic players as long-term investments.
The early part of the auction saw relatively subdued bidding for established international stars. Players such as Jake Fraser-McGurk, Prithvi Shaw, Devon Conway, Liam Livingstone, Rachin Ravindra, and Gus Atkinson went unsold, while several others were picked up at base prices. David Miller joined Delhi Capitals for INR 2 crore, Wanindu Hasaranga moved to Lucknow Super Giants for the same amount, and Quinton de Kock was bought by Mumbai Indians at his base price.
CSK coach Stephen Fleming later explained his team’s strategy, emphasizing discipline and patience. He noted that while it was tempting to bid for quality players early, CSK had planned to spend heavily toward the latter stages of the auction—a move that paid off with their record-breaking uncapped signings.
By the end of the first ten sets, only 25 of 70 players had been sold, highlighting how selective teams were. Punjab Kings had yet to make a single purchase, while franchises like KKR and CSK clearly set the tone for the rest of the auction.
The IPL 2026 auction not only reshaped team squads but also signaled a new era—one where young Indian talent commands as much, if not more, attention than established global stars.
