IPL 2026: ‘People will spend a lot of money on him’ – Aakash Chopra predicts most expensive player in upcoming mini-auction

Aakash Chopra (Source: Aakash Chopra/Youtube)

Aakash Chopra feels that Australian all-rounder Cameron Green could be the most expensive player in the upcoming Indian Premier League mini-auction. The Perth-born has represented Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the past. However, he wasn’t part of the IPL 2025 mega-auction after suffering a lower-spine fracture during the white-ball tour of England in September.

Chopra pointed out that Green has been in stunning form with the bat since returning from the injury and will start bowling soon. The former India opener feels that franchises will break the bank to acquire the services of the all-rounder for the 2026 edition of the IPL.

“Cameron Green, I feel he could be the most expensive player in the auction. Since he has returned from injury, his batting form is already incredible. He is not yet ready to bowl, but will start bowling at some stage. He is batting in the top order at the moment because he is not bowling,” Chopra said in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel.

“If he starts bowling and considering the batting ability he has, he could actually break the bank. People will spend a lot of money on him. That’s what I feel. So this auction could be in Cameron Green’s name,” he added.

They [Mumbai Indians] will have to exercise a bit more patience with their overseas recruits: Aakash Chopra

Chopra lauded five-time champions Mumbai Indians for spotting a lot of talented cricketers before other IPL teams. He mentioned the likes of Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Tim David, and Cameron Green. However, Chopra urged the Hardik Pandya-led side to show a bit more patience with their overseas players.

“The Mumbai Indians figure out everyone before time. I am going to take four names, who they had, but they let them go. So could the overseas player management have been better? They had Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Tim David and Cameron Green, and all in one year. These four players were together with them in the squad, and now not even one is there,” he said.

“The Mumbai Indians have a very rich legacy of spotting talent, but they would definitely want to change one thing. Just as they are with Indian talent, maybe they will have to exercise a bit more patience with their overseas recruits, especially the greenhorns they catch. You let them go as small stones, but they get carved over time, and then they become a crowning jewel in somebody’s crown,” Chopra observed.

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