Why Cameron Green won ₹25.20 crore but took home ₹18 crore
Cameron Green fetched ₹25.20 crore at the IPL 2026 mini-auction, but a BCCI rule caps his salary at ₹18 crore—reshaping how overseas stars get paid and how franchises bid.
- Dec 16, 2025,
- Updated Dec 16, 2025 5:31 PM IST
- 1/9
When Cameron Green’s name echoed through the Abu Dhabi auction hall, paddles flew. MI, CSK, RR and KKR locked into a rapid-fire bidding war that escalated beyond logic, emotion, and restraint—ending at a staggering ₹25.20 crore.
- 2/9
Kolkata Knight Riders emerged victorious, flexing their league-high purse with surgical confidence. With ₹64.30 crore in hand, KKR didn’t hesitate—betting big on Green’s rare ability to bat long, bowl fast, and anchor multiple match situations.
- 3/9
Despite the headline ₹25.20 crore price tag, Green’s actual IPL 2026 salary will be capped at ₹18 crore. The reason? A quiet but powerful BCCI rule that redraws how overseas stars are paid in mini-auctions.
- 4/9
Introduced ahead of IPL 2025, the BCCI regulation states that an overseas player’s mini-auction salary cannot exceed the highest retention value—₹18 crore—regardless of how high bidding climbs. Auctions may roar, but salaries now hit a ceiling.
- 5/9
The remaining ₹7.20 crore doesn’t vanish into thin air. Instead, it flows directly into the BCCI’s player welfare fund—supporting medical care, post-retirement security, and emergency assistance for cricketers across levels.
- 6/9
For KKR, however, the pain is real. The entire ₹25.20 crore is deducted from their auction purse, even though Green pockets less. It’s a system that rewards players, protects the ecosystem, and still penalises aggressive bidders.
- 7/9
Experts say this rule may quietly reset IPL economics. Franchises can still signal intent through massive bids, but players now earn stability—not auction hysteria—bringing structure to what was once financial free-for-all.
- 8/9
KKR’s interest wasn’t impulsive. Green’s IPL record—707 runs, 16 wickets, adaptability across formats—made him a rare commodity. Teams weren’t just buying talent; they were buying reliability under pressure.
- 9/9
Green’s deal marks a turning point. IPL auctions may remain dramatic theatre, but behind the scenes, the BCCI has imposed fiscal gravity—where spectacle, strategy, and sustainability now collide.