IPL 2026 Auction: Cameron Green Leads 45 Players in Elite ₹2 Crore Base Price Group

The upcoming IPL 2026 Mini-Auction is set for a high-stakes battle for elite talent, highlighted by 45 players who have registered at the maximum reserve price of ₹2 crore. Spearheading this list is Australian all-rounder Cameron Green, who missed the previous mega-auction due to injury and is now poised for a massive payday given his highly valued versatility with both bat and ball. The ₹2 crore bracket is heavily dominated by established international stars, including prominent names such as Liam Livingstone, Steve Smith, Matheesha Pathirana, and Wanindu Hasaranga. Intriguingly, only two domestic players—all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi—are among the Indian cricketers to list themselves in this highest bracket, while a notable absence from the overall list is Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell.
Green’s inclusion instantly makes him the most sought-after player, a factor influencing the pre-auction strategies of several franchises. Teams like Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who enter the auction with the largest remaining purses (₹64.3 crore and ₹43.4 crore, respectively), are expected to fiercely contest the bidding for the Australian all-rounder. KKR, in particular, is viewed as a frontrunner, keen to fill the powerful all-rounder void left by the recent retirement of T20 star Andre Russell. The significant presence of recently released players—such as Pathirana and Bishnoi—in the top base price bracket indicates a broader tactical shift by franchises to strategically manage their salary caps and free up funds to secure match-winners like Green, whose all-round ability offers immense tactical value.