The Indian Premier League players' auction on Tuesday witnessed history being rewritten as the Kolkata Knight Riders emerged as the undisputed big spenders. The franchise shattered the record for the most expensive overseas signing by acquiring Australian all-rounder Cameron Green for a staggering Rs 25.20 crore after a fierce bidding war.
Record-Breaking Bids and Marquee Signings
KKR's aggressive strategy was on full display at the auction in New Delhi. The bidding for Cameron Green turned into an intense duel between Kolkata and the Chennai Super Kings. KKR ultimately prevailed, securing Green's services and surpassing the previous record of Rs 24.75 crore set by fellow Australian Mitchell Starc. This monumental purchase makes Green the most expensive overseas player in the history of the IPL auction.
Not content with one headline act, the Knight Riders further bolstered their squad by securing Sri Lankan slinger Matheesha Pathirana for Rs 18 crore. Starting from a base price of Rs 2 crore, Pathirana's fee made him the costliest Sri Lankan player ever sold at an IPL auction. KKR entered the fray for Pathirana after Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants exited the bidding.
Notable Unsold Players and Other Key Buys
While overseas stars commanded massive sums, the auction threw up surprises with several prominent Indian names finding no takers. Despite strong recent domestic performances, batters Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan remained unsold. Sarfaraz was coming off a blistering 22-ball 73 for Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Other significant moves included Delhi Capitals picking South African power-hitter David Miller for his base price of Rs 2 crore. Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer for Rs 7 crore, a race where KKR initially participated but stepped back. In a homecoming of sorts, wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock returned to the Mumbai Indians for Rs 1 crore.
Some other notable auction outcomes were:
- Lucknow Super Giants signed South African pacer Anrich Nortje for Rs 2 crore.
- New Zealand opener Devon Conway went unsold.
- Rajasthan Royals bought spinner Ravi Bishnoi for Rs 7.20 crore.
- Chennai Super Kings invested Rs 14.2 crore in Prashant Veer.
Financial Rules and Team Strategies
The auction highlighted the intricate financial regulations of the IPL. Under current rules, a portion of Green's record fee will be allocated to the BCCI's player development programme. He will receive Rs 18 crore as his season salary, with the remainder going to the board. Pathirana, however, will pocket the full Rs 18 crore as his bid falls entirely within the salary cap.
KKR's CEO Venky Mysore later explained the strategic thinking behind the Green purchase, indicating the team was operating close to its budgetary limit. The three-time champions focused their resources on securing two high-impact overseas players, stepping aside in other contests like the one for Venkatesh Iyer to manage their purse.
The auction sets the stage for an intriguing IPL 2026 season, with KKR assembling a powerhouse team and other franchises making calculated bets. The unsold status of several in-form Indian players will also be a major talking point as teams finalize their squads.
