IPL 2026 Auction: Why Cameron Green Will Pocket Only ₹18 Crore Despite KKR Buying Him For ₹25.20 Crore

Australia's all-rounder Cameron Green became one of the highest bid players so far in the IPL 2026 Auction at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. While both Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders bid aggressively for him, eventually the Kolkata side acquired the player for Rs 25.20 crore.

Notably, despite KKR's Rs 25.2 Cr bid, Cameron Green will not be earning more than Rs 18 crore due to the new BCCI rule this season. This rule was introduced because of the new 'maximum fee' rule that the IPL added last year to address the concern of the franchises that some overseas players register exclusively for the mini auction to earn a higher amount.

Hence, this year, IPL came up with a maximum fee rule where no overseas player can earn more than Rs 18 crore, which was the highest slab for franchises retaining players ahead of the mega auction of IPL 2025. As per the new rule, if the bid exceeds the 18 crore slab, then the excess amount will be given to BCCI for player welfare.

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What Exactly Does The Rule State?

As per the new rule, the maximum fee an overseas player can gain from the mini-auction is determined by the highest auction price or the highest retention price at the mega auction, whichever is lower.

The rule states, "Any overseas player's auction fee at a small auction will be lower than the highest retention price [of INR 18 crore] and the highest auction price at the big auction. In case the highest auction price at the big auction is INR 20 crore, then INR 18 crore will be the cap. If the highest auction price at the big auction is INR 16 crore, then the cap will be INR 16 crore."

It further states, "The incremental amount over INR 16 or 18 crore, as the case may be, will be deposited with BCCI. The incremental amount deposited with BCCI will be utilised towards players' welfare."

It is to be noted that the sold amount will be charged from the auction purse of the said team.

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Will This Rule Apply To Indian Players?

It is to be noted that the new maximum-fee rule does not apply to Indian players in the league. The home players will receive the whole amount they are sold for.