&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "HIGHLIGHTS | IPL 2026 auction - Meet top 5 most expensive players")
The IPL 2026 mini auction concluded at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE, with franchises spending big to secure impact overseas players for the upcoming season. From a pool of 369 players, including 115 overseas cricketers, teams were competing for just 77 available slots, leading to intense bidding for proven international match-winners. As expected, all-rounders, fast bowlers and top-order batters with strong T20 records attracted major interest. Australian all-rounder Cameron Green finished as the most expensive player of the auction, underlining the premium placed on experience and versatility. Here are the five most expensive players from the IPL 2026 mini auction.
IPL 2026 auction: 5 most expensive players
Cameron Green
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Cameron Green Photograph: (AFP)
The Australian all-rounder Cameron Green went to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for $2.76 mn (INR 25.20 crore), the highest-ever for an overseas player at an auction. However, Green will receive only INR 18 crore as per the new BCCI rules for foreigners, the rest INR 7.20 crore will be used towards players welfare.
Matheesha Pathirana
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Matheesha Pathirana Photograph: (AFP)
Sri Lankan speedster Matheesha Pathirana was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for $1.98 mn (INR 18 crore). The duo of Mitchell Starc and Pathirana is going to make trouble for many batting lineups in the upcoming IPL season.
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Prashant Veer
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Prashant Veer Photograph: (Instagram)
Prashant Veer is a 20-year-old left-arm spin all-rounder from Uttar Pradesh. He has impressed everyone with his performances in domestic cricket and was rewarded at the IPL 2026 auction, as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bought him for a huge bid of $1.5 mn (INR 14.20 crore).
Kartik Sharma
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Kartik Sharma Photograph: (Others)
Kartik Sharma has been snapped up by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for $1.5 mn (INR 14.20 crore), securing his a place in the squad. The Rajasthan player is known for his powerful hitting and finishing skills. So far, in 12 T20 matches, Sharma has scored 334 runs at a strike rate of 164, including 28 sixes.
Liam Livingstone
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Liam Livingstone Photograph: (AFP)
England's star all-rounder Liam Livingstone goes to Sunrisers Hyderabad for $1.30 mn (INR 13 crore). He offers both attacking batting as well as spin bowling option, which makes him a valuable pick for SRH.
