IPL 2026 Auction Rules Explained: Why Overseas Stars Like Cameron Green Are Capped at Rs 18 Crore

The clock is ticking for the IPL 2026 players' auction! It is going to be a gigantic, daring, and very daredevil event already taking place this year on 16th December in Abu Dhabi. With an incredible 1,355 players from different parts of the world participating in the auction, the figures are enough to indicate that the global attraction of the IPL is still unmatched.

Not only the number of players but also the new rules, blockbuster base prices, and the strategic gameplay which could utterly destroy the auction dynamics have turned up the excitement among fans and franchises.

Big Names, Big Base Prices

As per ESPN Cricinfo, the number of foreign players and Indian stars who are participating in the auction with a minimum price of 2 crores is 43 and 2 respectively. Among these, some very prominent names are:

Cameron Green – the all-rounder of Australia who had to miss the IPL 2025 for an injury, is all set to come back to the T20 stage again.

Matheesha Pathirana – the young fast bowler from Sri Lanka who has a bowling style that is similar to Malinga, surprisingly let go by the Chennai Super Kings before the auction, is the one to create a lot of bidding rivalry.

The age of Pathirana, his unusual bowling style, and his T20 impact make him a talent that is hard to miss, possibly creating a sensation amongst franchises.

KKR’s Mega Purse & Big Stakes

Mitchell Starc continues to hold the record for being the most expensive IPL mini-auction buy—Rs 24.75 crore with KKR in 2024. Currently, the Kolkata Knight Riders are at the 2026 auction with a whopping Rs 64.30 crore budget, as they have kept only 12 players. The fans will not only see the team playing the aggressive and clever game but also there will be one more thing that will be the twist in the tale.

New Rule Alert: Earnings Cap for Foreign Players

The BCCI has rolled out an important guideline that will be indirectly for the foreign stars;

No foreign player can receive more than Rs 18 crore irrespective of how high the bids are.

• Illustration: if a team offers Rs 20 crore for a foreign player, he will get Rs 18 crore only while the remaining Rs 2 crore will go to the BCCI Player Welfare Fund. The team, however, will have to write off the full Rs 20 crore from its budget.
• Main conclusion: Teams will have to be very clever in their bidding for international stars. Notably, this limit is not applicable to Indian players, which means an Indian cricketer might get Rs 22 crores or more if teams are ready to pay.

What It Implies for Green, Pathirana & Other Superstars

With the Rs 18 crore cap, players like Cameron Green andMatheesha Pathiranawould still see heavy bids but their earnings will be capped at Rs 18 crore. On the other hand, Indian stars will have the chance to earn a lot, thereby causing record sales for local players.

Why IPL 2026 Might Be the Most Exciting Auction Ever

The IPL 2026 auction is not only going to be the most challenging but also one of the most thrilling due to more than 1,300 registrations along with top foreign players, franchises with huge budgets, and new salary rules being applied. The fans can look forward to:

• Intense bidding wars
• Surprising strategies from teams
• Once-off player salaries
• Exciting drama as teams scramble between talent and managing their budget

This coming December, a global audience of cricket fans is destined to witness the IPL 2026 auction and it is going to be a roller coaster ride of strategy, suspense, and star-studded action.