IPL 2026 Auction: KKR Secures Green for 25.20 Cr Record

In Abu Dhabi on December 16, 2025, the Indian Premier League's mini auction for the 2026 season saw teams spend a combined 215.45 crore rupees to fill 77 roster slots, with Kolkata Knight Riders emerging as the biggest spenders by securing Australian allrounder Cameron Green for a record 25.20 crore rupees. The event at Etihad Arena featured intense bidding wars among the 10 franchises, which had entered with varying purse sizes after retaining core players from the previous season.

Green's acquisition topped the list of high-profile buys, outbidding rivals including Chennai Super Kings in a contest that reached 57 bids. KKR also invested heavily in Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana, previously released by CSK, for 18 crore rupees, bolstering their pace attack. The auction highlighted a surge in demand for uncapped Indian talent, as CSK set a new benchmark by signing Uttar Pradesh allrounder Prashant Veer and Rajasthan wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma each for 14.20 crore rupees, the highest prices ever for domestic players without international caps. These deals, more than 47 times their base price of 30 lakh rupees, underscored franchises' shift toward long-term...