Top 5 most expensive overseas players of IPL 2026 Auction ft. Cameron Green

A total of 77 players were sold, including 29 overseas, at the IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, December 16. The 10 franchises shelled out ₹215.45 crore to buy these players and complete their 25-member squad for the 19th edition of the T20 league.

Entering the auction with the highest purse of ₹63.4 crore, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bought the maximum number of players at the auction. The three-time tournament winners bought 13 players, including six foreign options. The SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) bought the second-highest number of players by adding 10 players to their squad.

The five-time IPL champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and Rajasthan Royals (RR) acquired nine players each. Meanwhile, the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Delhi Capitals (DC) bought eight players each. Despite having just ₹2.75 crore in their purse, the Mumbai Indians (MI) purchased the second-least players alongside the Gujarat Titans (GT) - five apiece. Last season's finalists, Punjab Kings (PBKS), bought the fewest number of players (4).

In this article, we take a look at the five costliest players at the IPL 2026 auction:

Cameron Green – ₹25.2 crore

Cameron Green last played for RCB in the IPL. Source: Getty

Australian all-rounder Cameron Green emerged as the costliest pick at the IPL 2026 auction, beating national teammate Mitchell Starc (₹24.75 crore) to become the expensive overseas player in tournament history. KKR bought him after a fierce bidding war involving CSK and RR. Despite being sold for ₹25.2 crore, Green will only receive ₹18 crore. According to BCCI rules, the remaining amount will go to the players’ welfare fund.

The 26-year-old has previously represented MI and the RCB in 2023 and 2024. The right-handed batter has amassed 707 runs in 29 IPL games at a strike rate of 153.69, including one ton and two half-centuries. The medium pacer has also bagged 16 wickets at an economy rate of 9.07. Green has apparently replaced Andre Russell in their squad. The latter has rejoined the franchise as a power coach after his retirement.

Matheesha Pathirana – ₹18 crore

Matheesha Pathirana represented CSK from IPL 2022 to IPL 2025. Source: Getty

Death bowling specialist Matheesha Pathirana was the second-most expensive player at the IPL 2026 auction. The Knight Riders won the winning bid after a bidding war with LSG. The 22-year-old has represented CSK in the last four IPL seasons, picking up 47 wickets at an economy rate of 8.68. Apart from the IPL, Pathirana has also played ILT20, SA20, and LPL. Overall, the Sri Lankan pacer has picked up 136 wickets in 101 T20s with the help of five 4-fers.

Pathiarana’s addition will boost KKR since their fast bowling is heavily reliant on Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora.

Liam Livingstone – ₹13 crore

Liam Livingstone is an experienced IPL player. Source: Getty

After going unsold in the first two rounds, Liam Livingstone fetched a mammoth ₹13 crore at the IPL 2026 auction. The SunRisers bought him after a fierce bidding war involving LSG, KKR, and GT.

Livingstone is a seasoned IPL player with 1051 runs in 49 matches at a strike rate of 158.76, including seven half-centuries. The part-time spinner has also bagged 13 wickets in 27 innings at an economy rate of 9.01. Overall, the England all-rounder has 7,496 runs and 143 wickets in 330 T20s.

Livingstone will now add more firepower to the already strong SRH squad, which features Heinrich Klaasen, Travis Head, and Abhishek Sharma. He also provides a spin bowling option.

Mustafizur Rahman – ₹9.2 crore

CSK missed out on Mustafizur Rahman's services at the IPL 2026 auction. Source: Getty

Bangladesh’s left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman had a great day at the IPL auction as the Knight Riders shelled out a whopping ₹9.2 crore for his services at IPL 2026. The 30-year-old has played 60 matches with five teams in the IPL, picking up 65 wickets at an economy rate of 8.13. It will be his first season with KKR, who beat CSK for the winning bid.

Overall, Rahman has scalped 387 wickets in 308 T20s at an economy of 7.43, including four five-wicket hauls. At KKR, he'll be a solid option to pair with Pathirana in the death overs. He is equally effective with the ball in the power play.

Josh Inglis – ₹8.6 crore

Josh Inglis in action in the IPL 2025 final against RCB. Source: Getty

LSG splurged ₹8.60 crore for Josh Inglis to win a bidding war against SRH at the IPL 2026 auction. The Lucknow-based franchise has apparently chosen a long-term plan as the Australian wicketkeeper will only be available for a few matches in the 2026 season. As per Cricbuzz, he will only be available for four games due to personal reasons (wedding plans).

Inglis represented PBKS in IPL 2025, amassing 278 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 162.57, including one half-century. Overall, the right-handed batter has 3,853 runs in 162 T20s at a strike rate of 149.98, comprising four tons and 20 half-centuries.