Sports: Kolkata Knight Riders made the biggest splash at the Indian Premier League players’ auction on Tuesday, shelling out a record ₹25.20 crore to secure Australian all-rounder Cameron Green and a further ₹18 crore to sign Sri Lankan pace sensation Matheesha Pathirana.
The auction also witnessed unprecedented demand for uncapped Indian talent, with Uttar Pradesh’s 20-year-old left-arm spinner Prashant Veer and Rajasthan’s 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma being snapped up by Chennai Super Kings for ₹14.20 crore each. Both players entered the auction at a base price of ₹30 lakh and emerged as the most expensive uncapped players in IPL auction history.
Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi Dar was another major gainer, as Delhi Capitals secured his services for ₹8.40 crore after he too came in with a base price of ₹30 lakh. However, the auction proved disappointing for Indian batters Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan, both of whom went unsold despite recent strong performances in domestic cricket.
Green’s signing rewrote the record books, as he overtook compatriot Mitchell Starc’s previous mark of ₹24.75 crore to become the most expensive overseas player in IPL auction history. The bidding for the Australian all-rounder saw an intense tussle between Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings, before KKR eventually sealed the deal.
Kolkata also showed interest in India all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer but withdrew from the contest after Royal Challengers Bengaluru raised the bid to ₹7 crore. The three-time champions later shifted focus to Pathirana, entering a fierce bidding war after Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants stepped aside. Starting at a base price of ₹2 crore, Pathirana went on to become the costliest Sri Lankan player ever sold at an IPL auction.
Under existing auction rules for overseas players, Green will receive ₹18 crore as his season salary, with the remaining amount being directed to the BCCI’s player development programme. Pathirana, however, will take home the full ₹18 crore, as his contract falls within the salary cap.
KKR managing director Venky Mysore said the franchise was satisfied with both the acquisition and the price paid for Green. He noted that the team was keen on the all-rounder but was prepared to step back had the bidding escalated further. Mysore added that Green’s all-round ability, combined with the presence of power-hitting coach Andre Russell, would significantly strengthen the squad.
Green, who has previously represented Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, has featured in 29 IPL matches, scoring 707 runs and picking up 16 wickets. Expressing his excitement, the Australian said he was looking forward to playing at Eden Gardens and hoped for a successful season with Kolkata, signing off with a cheerful “Ami KKR.”
Among other notable moves, South African batter David Miller was bought by Delhi Capitals for his base price of ₹2 crore, while New Zealand opener Devon Conway remained unsold despite having the same base price. Quinton de Kock returned to Mumbai Indians for ₹1 crore, while South African pacer Anrich Nortje was picked up by Lucknow Super Giants after Spencer Johnson failed to attract any bids.
The mini auction featured a pool of 359 players, including 246 Indians and 113 overseas cricketers. The 10 franchises were bidding to fill up to 77 available slots, with 31 reserved for foreign players.
