Cricket: Each team’s most expensive players bought at the IPL 2026 auction
Cameron Green becomes most expensive playerin IPL history
The 2026 Indian Premier League is edging ever closer, and we now know the full squad lists for the 10 participating franchises following the IPL mini-auction last week. We will be covering every match from the upcoming tournament in our cricket predictions.
Amid all the drama and surprise twists, it was the Kolkata Knight Riders that stole the headlines by forking over a staggering ₹25.20 for the services of Australian all-rounder Cameron Green, who became the most expensive overseas player in the history of the competition.
Chennai Super Kings surprised onlookers with their strategy by signing Uttar Pradesh spinner Prashant Veer and Rajasthan wicket-keeper for a massive ₹14.20 crore each, despite both players only entering the auction with a base price of just ₹30 lakh.
Sunrisers Hyderabad made a surprising call by parting with ₹13 crore for Liam Livingstone after the Englishman went unsold in the opening round, while Delhi Capitals also raised a few eyebrows by committing ₹8.40 crore for Jammu quick Auqib Nabi Dar.
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru bolstered their ranks by bringing in one of last year's highest-paid players, Venkatesh Iyer, for ₹7 crore, ₹1.60 crore less than the Lucknow Super Giants paid for Josh Inglis, who will miss a chunk of the competition due to personal commitments.
After a spending spree last year, the Punjab Kings were relatively quiet at the auction but splashed out ₹4.40 crore for Ben Dwarhuis. Mumbai Indians' most costly purchase was that of South Africa wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock for ₹1 crore.
Top 15 most expensive signings at IPL 2026 mini-auction
| Rank | Player | Base Price | Winning Bid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cameron Green (KKR) | Rs 2 crore | Rs 25.20 crore |
| 2 | Matheesha Pathirana (KKR) | Rs 2 crore | Rs 18.00 crore |
| 3 | Kartik Sharma (CSK) | Rs 30 lakh | Rs 14.20 crore |
| 4 | Prashant Veer (CSK) | Rs 30 lakh | Rs 14.20 crore |
| 5 | Liam Livingstone (SRH) | Rs 2 crore | Rs 13.00 crore |
| 6 | Mustafizur Rahman (KKR) | Rs 2 crore | Rs 9.20 crore |
| 7 | Josh Inglis (LSG) | Rs 2 crore | Rs 8.60 crore |
| 8 | Auqib Dar (DC) | Rs 30 lakh | Rs 8.40 crore |
| 9 | Ravi Bishnoi (RR) | Rs 2 crore | Rs 7.20 crore |
| 10 | Jason Holder (GT) | Rs 2 crore | Rs 7.00 crore |
| 11 | Venkatesh Iyer (RCB) | Rs 2 crore | Rs 7.00 crore |
| 12 | Rahul Chahar (CSK) | Rs 1 crore | Rs 5.20 crore |
| 13 | Mangesh Yadav (RCB) | Rs 30 lakh | Rs 5.20 crore |
| 14 | Ben Dwarshuis (PBKS) | Rs 1 crore | Rs 4.40 crore |
| 15 | Pathum Nissanka (DC) | Rs 75 lakh | Rs 4.00 crore |
