IPL 2026 Mini-Auction: KKR Buys Green for Record 25.2 Crore

The IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi on December 16, 2025, saw franchises splurge on emerging talent and international stars, with Kolkata Knight Riders securing Australian allrounder Cameron Green for a record 25.2 crore and Chennai Super Kings investing heavily in uncapped Indian prospects, signaling a youth-driven shift across the league.

The auction, limited to a mini format following the 2025 mega event, featured intense bidding wars for players like Green, who joined Knight Riders after missing the previous season due to injury, and Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana, acquired by the same team for 18 crore following his release from Super Kings. Super Kings, entering with a focus on rebuilding, paid 14.2 crore each for 19-year-old Rajasthan keeper-batter Kartik Sharma and Uttar Pradesh allrounder Prashant Veer, totaling 28.4 crore for the pair and setting a new benchmark for domestic valuations. Head coach Stephen Fleming explained the strategy, noting that scouting for Sharma, who had served as a net bowler the prior year, had been underway for over a year. "These weren't leaks or impulsive buys; they were targeted replacements for the core we lost after the Ravindra...