IPL 2026: Why Cameron Green will be paid INR 18 crore despite being sold for INR 25.20 crore at auction?

Australian all-rounder Cameron Green will only earn INR 18 crore despite bagging a whopping INR 25.20 crore after getting signed by Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026 auction. Green missed IPL 2025 due to recovering from a back injury.

This is due to the maximum fee rule enforced by the IPL, which states that any overseas player’s maximum fee at a mini auction will be the lower value between the highest retention slab (INR 18 crore) and the highest price at the previous mega auction, which is INR 27 crore for Rishabh Pant in this case.

“Any overseas player’s auction fee at small auction will be lower than the highest retention price [of INR 18 crore] and the highest auction price at the big auction. In case the highest auction price at the big auction is INR 20 crore, then INR 18 crore will be the cap. If the highest auction price at big auction is INR 16 crore, then the cap will be INR 16 crore,” stated a rule sent by the IPL to all franchises, as quoted by Cricbuzz.

Green was listed for a base price of INR 2 crore. KKR entered the mix from INR 2.80 crore and fought toe-to-toe with first Rajasthan Royals and then Chennai Super Kings to emerge supreme as the bidding process turned out to be an intense one.

With Andre Russell retiring from the IPL, there were several reports that KKR were in need of a like-for-like pace-bowling all-rounder. With the acquisition of Green, the three-time champions have ticked the box.

Green has played for two different franchises in the IPL. He has featured for Mumbai Indians in 2023 and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2024. Speaking of the heft all-rounder’s stats, Green has registered 707 runs in 29 matches and picked up 16 wickets at an economy rate of 9.07.