Australia all-rounder Cameron Green has made headlines after becoming the most expensive overseas signing in Indian Premier League (IPL) history. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secured Green at the 2026 auction for a staggering 25.2 crore INR (£2.1m), surpassing the previous record held by Mitchell Starc.

Record-Breaking IPL Auction

Green’s acquisition came after a bidding war with Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings, highlighting the high demand for the 26-year-old all-rounder. He now ranks as the third-most expensive player overall in IPL history, following Rishabh Pant (27 cr, Lucknow Super Giants) and Shreyas Iyer (26.75 cr, Punjab Kings) in the 2025 auction.

Despite being sold under the capped batters category, Green confirmed he will feature as an all-rounder, attributing the auction listing to a “management oversight.”

Career Stats and IPL Experience

Green has previously represented Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, scoring 707 runs at a strike rate above 150 in 29 matches, while also taking 16 wickets. Known for his dynamic batting and medium-pace bowling, he is a versatile option for KKR in both T20 batting and bowling roles.

Injuries have been a challenge for Green, as he missed the 2025 IPL season due to back surgery. However, he returned to international cricket as a specialist batter in June and is currently contributing as an all-rounder for Australia in the 2025-26 Ashes series against England.

Other Key Auction Picks

• Ben Duckett (England) will make his IPL debut with Delhi Capitals for 2 crore (£167,000).
• Liam Livingstone (England) joins Sunrisers Hyderabad for 13 crore (£1.085m), the fifth-highest bid.
• Tom Banton and Luke Wood will team up with Jos Buttler at Gujarat Titans.
• Jordan Cox joins Royal Challengers Bengaluru, playing alongside Phil Salt and Jacob Bethell.
• Sri Lanka seamer Matheesha Pathirana signed with KKR for 18 crore (£1.5m).
• Chennai Super Kings secured uncapped Indian stars Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer for 14.2 crore (£1.185m).

Notable unsold players included Australia’s Steve Smith, England’s Jamie Smith and Jonny Bairstow, and New Zealand’s Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell.

What This Means for IPL 2026

Cameron Green’s record-breaking signing underlines the growing value of all-rounders in T20 cricket and adds firepower to KKR’s squad for the 2026 season. Fans will eagerly watch to see how Green balances batting explosiveness with bowling versatility, while also maintaining fitness following his recent injury struggles.