Australia all-rounder Cameron Green became the most expensive overseas buy in IPL history on Tuesday.

Green’s name, in the first set of players in the auction in Abu Dhabi, triggered a bidding war, with former champions the Kolkata Knight Riders finally signing him for 252-million rupees (about R55.4-million) the 2026 edition.

The big money for Green surpassed the previous overseas record of 247.5-million rupees (R54.5-million) paid by Kolkata in the 2024 auction for Mitchell Starc.

But due to conversion fluctuations between rupees and US dollars – with India’s rupee falling to a record low of over 90 to the greenback this month – Starc’s value at the time was higher in dollars.

Green on Tuesday was bought for the equivalent of $2.77-million, compared to $2.98-million splashed out for Starc.

Green himself has a capped salary of 180-million rupees (R39.6-million) due to a new “maximum fee” rule, with the remainder going to the BCCI.

He becomes the third most expensive player in the IPL, after India’s Rishabh Pant (270 million rupees – R59.4-million) and Shreyas Iyer (267.5 million rupees – R58.9-million).

Green, 26, has scored 707 runs in 29 IPL matches for the Mumbai Indians and defending champions the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

He missed the 2025 edition due to a back injury but is currently playing in the Ashes against England.

Photo: BCCI