The IPL 2026 auction rewrote history after Cameron Green became the most expensive player ever bought at an IPL auction, surpassing all previous records following a fierce bidding war involving Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings.
Green was eventually snapped up by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 25.20 crore, pushing him to the top of the all-time list of highest auction buys in IPL history. His signing overtook Mitchell Starc’s Rs 24.75 crore deal with KKR in 2024, which had stood as the benchmark until now.
Here is the updated list of the top 10 most expensive players in IPL auction history (as of IPL 2026):
- Cameron Green – Kolkata Knight Riders – 2026 – Rs 25.20 crore
- Mitchell Starc – Kolkata Knight Riders – 2024 – Rs 24.75 crore
- Pat Cummins – Sunrisers Hyderabad – 2024 – Rs 20.50 crore
- Sam Curran – Punjab Kings – 2023 – Rs 18.50 crore
- Cameron Green – Mumbai Indians – 2023 – Rs 17.50 crore
- Chris Morris – Rajasthan Royals – 2021 – Rs 16.25 crore
- Ben Stokes – Chennai Super Kings – 2023 – Rs 16.25 crore
- Yuvraj Singh – Delhi Daredevils – 2015 – Rs 16 crore
- Nicholas Pooran – Lucknow Super Giants – 2023 – Rs 16 crore
- Pat Cummins – Kolkata Knight Riders – 2020 – Rs 15.50 crore
Green’s record-breaking move marks the first time a player has crossed the Rs 25 crore mark at an IPL auction, underlining the premium placed on elite all-rounders in the modern T20 era. Notably, Kolkata Knight Riders now feature three of the top five most expensive buys in IPL history, highlighting their aggressive auction strategy across recent seasons.
With the IPL 2026 auction still fresh in memory, Cameron Green’s Rs 25.20 crore signing is set to remain one of the defining moments in the league’s auction history.
