Australian all-rounder Cameron Green’s record-breaking ₹25.2 crore deal with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has grabbed headlines, but the final payout tells a different story.
BCCI’s new overseas player cap reshapes IPL 2026 auction economics
Due to the BCCI’s newly introduced ‘maximum fee’ rule for overseas players, Cameron Green will receive only ₹18 crore from the agreement, despite being the most expensive buy at the IPL 2026 auction.
The revised regulation, aimed at curbing unchecked spending in mini-auctions, marks a significant shift in how foreign players are compensated, even as franchises continue to spend aggressively to secure elite talent.
What is BCCI’s new maximum fee rule for overseas players?
Salary cap tied to retention slab and previous mega-auction record
Under the updated IPL framework, the BCCI has placed a ceiling on what overseas cricketers can personally earn from a mini-auction. The rule states that a foreign player’s salary will be capped at the lower of two figures:
- The highest player retention slab, currently ₹18 crore, or
- The highest price paid at the previous mega auction
Although Rishabh Pant fetched ₹27 crore at the last mega auction, the retention slab is lower, meaning ₹18 crore becomes the effective cap for overseas players at the 2026 mini-auction.
As a result, regardless of how high the bidding climbs, no foreign player can take home more than ₹18 crore under this rule.
Why KKR still lose ₹25.2 crore from their purse?
While Green’s personal earnings are limited to ₹18 crore, KKR must still deduct the full ₹25.2 crore from their auction purse. That figure reflects the price the franchise bid to secure his services and counts entirely against their salary cap.
The remaining ₹7.2 crore, which Green does not receive, is not refunded to the franchise. Instead, it is transferred to the BCCI’s players’ welfare fund, as mandated under the new regulations.
This mechanism ensures teams feel the financial impact of aggressive bidding while preventing disproportionate payouts to individual overseas players.
Why the BCCI introduced the overseas player cap?
Controlling mini-auction inflation
The new cap was introduced to address mini-auction inflation, where a limited pool of high-profile overseas players often triggered bidding wars far exceeding their market value. With franchises competing for immediate impact players, supply-demand imbalances had allowed a few foreign stars to command massive paydays.
By fixing a maximum salary for overseas players, the BCCI aims to:
- Encourage more balanced spending
- Protect franchise purse management
- Reduce last-minute financial distortions in squad building
Indian players not affected by the BCCI’s new rule
Domestic stars can still earn full bid amount
Importantly, the new rule applies only to overseas players. If an Indian cricketer is bought for more than ₹18 crore at a mini-auction, they are entitled to receive the entire amount bid, with no salary restriction.
This distinction reinforces the league’s focus on rewarding domestic talent while still allowing franchises to pursue international stars – albeit under tighter financial controls.
