The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 player auction in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, witnessed history being made as franchises broke the bank for top talent. The event was headlined by a fierce bidding war for Australian all-rounder Cameron Green, culminating in a record-breaking deal.
Green's Record-Breaking Bid Sparks Fierce Battle
The auction fireworks began early with Cameron Green in Set 1. With only a few teams having the purse for a marquee player, a tense duel unfolded. The initial bid came from Mumbai Indians, followed quickly by Rajasthan Royals. However, the real contest ignited when Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) entered at ₹2.80 crore, directly challenging Rajasthan.
The two teams pushed the bid relentlessly until it reached ₹13.60 crore, at which point Rajasthan Royals withdrew. Just when it seemed KKR might secure him, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) jumped into the fray at ₹13.80 crore. What followed was an epic showdown between the two heavyweight franchises, neither willing to back down for the prized all-rounder. In the end, KKR emerged victorious, securing Green's services for a staggering ₹25.20 crore. This monumental sum made him the costliest player of the 2026 auction, the most expensive overseas star, and the third-most expensive player in the entire history of the IPL.
Uncapped Indian Talents Command Astronomical Prices
If Green's sale was expected, the auction's biggest surprise was the unprecedented sums fetched by uncapped Indian players. In a stunning turn of events, young talents Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer became the talk of the town. Both players had entered the auction with a modest base price of just ₹30 lakh.
Chennai Super Kings, having missed out on Green and another target, were determined to secure the best young Indian talent. They engaged in aggressive bidding to snap up both players. CSK shelled out a massive ₹14.20 crore each for Prashant Veer, an all-rounder, and Kartik Sharma, a wicketkeeper-batter. This made them the costliest uncapped players ever in IPL auction history, highlighting the franchises' intense focus on investing in future Indian stars.
Other Major Deals and Late Drama
Kolkata Knight Riders were not done after the Green purchase. They also made a massive play for Sri Lankan speedster Matheesha Pathirana, signing the former CSK bowler for a whopping ₹18 crore. This double-signing marked KKR as one of the most aggressive spenders of the day.
There was late drama for English power-hitter Liam Livingstone. After going unsold in the initial rounds, he found interest during the accelerated auction. A bidding war erupted between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Sunrisers Hyderabad had the final laugh, securing Livingstone for ₹13 crore. He will now join a potent SRH line-up that already features stars like Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, and Pat Cummins.
The list of the top five costliest players from the IPL 2026 auction is a testament to the value placed on all-rounders and emerging Indian talent:
- Cameron Green (Capped): ₹25.20 crore - Kolkata Knight Riders (All-rounder)
- Matheesha Pathirana (Capped): ₹18 crore - Kolkata Knight Riders (Bowler)
- Prashant Veer (Uncapped): ₹14.20 crore - Chennai Super Kings (All-rounder)
- Kartik Sharma (Uncapped): ₹14.20 crore - Chennai Super Kings (Wicketkeeper-Batter)
- Liam Livingstone (Capped): ₹13 crore - Sunrisers Hyderabad (All-rounder)
The auction has set the stage for an intriguing IPL 2026 season, with teams betting big on established international stars and unproven domestic talent in equal measure. The massive investments in uncapped players like Veer and Sharma will put them under immense spotlight, while the pressure will be on mega-signings like Green to justify their historic price tags.
