IPL 2026: Why did Akash Ambani bid for Cameron Green despite MI's low purse?

KKR bought Cameron Green for INR 25.20 crore in the IPL 2026 auction.

The Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) mini-auction concluded on December 16 in Abu Dhabi. A total of 369 players were shortlisted to go under the hammer, including 253 Indian players and 116 overseas players. All franchises filled the remaining 77 slots.

The highlight of the auction was the record-breaking bid for Australian star all-rounder Cameron Green. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bought him for ₹25.20 crore, making him the most expensive player of the IPL 2026 mini-auction and also the costliest overseas player in IPL auction history.

However, Green will not receive the full amount, as per a rule introduced by the BCCI. He will earn ₹18 crore, while the remaining amount will be added to the players’ welfare fund. Several teams were keen to secure Green’s services, with big-purse franchises like CSK and KKR engaging in an intense bidding war.

However, what came as a surprise was the involvement of the Mumbai Indians. Despite entering the auction with the lowest purse of just ₹2.75 crore, MI placed the opening bid for Green and stayed in briefly before opting out.

Even though they knew he would attract massive bids, their intent to enter the race highlighted Green’s immense demand and value at the auction table. After the auction, MI’s owner, Akash Ambani, revealed why they bid for Cameron despite the low purse.

Akash Ambani’s statement on the bid for Green

Akash Ambani explained why the Mumbai Indians raised the paddle for Cameron Green during the mini auction despite having a limited purse of just ₹2.75 crore. He said, “We bid for Cameron Green just to tell him that we value him. He will always be in our thoughts. Whenever he is available at the auction, our paddle will go up for him.”

This shows that even though Green is no longer a part of MI, the franchise still values ​​him highly. Perhaps in the future, if he becomes available in the auction again, the Mumbai Indians will already have a strong bidder ready for him.

Green’s history in the IPL

Cameron Green has represented two franchises in the IPL before this. He was part of the Mumbai Indians squad in IPL 2023, where he enjoyed a breakthrough season, scoring 452 runs in 16 matches at an average of over 50 and a strike rate of around 160. He also made useful contributions with the ball, picking up six wickets during the season.

Before IPL 2024, the Mumbai Indians traded Green to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru for ₹17 crore to free up a large sum of money to trade for Hardik Pandya from the Gujarat Titans.

At RCB, Green was assigned a different role, featuring primarily as a middle-order batter and occasionally as a finisher. He scored 255 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 143 and was even more impactful with the ball, claiming 10 wickets in the season.

RCB went on to qualify for the playoffs despite spending a large part of the season at the bottom of the table. Green earned a strong fan following at both franchises due to his all-round contributions. He missed IPL 2025 due to injury and opted out of the mega auction, but has now made a return to the league this year.

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