Kolkata Knight Riders went all out for Cameron Green at the IPL 2026 auction. Head coach Abhishek Nayar finally explained why they spent so much on the Australian. The team needed someone special after Andre Russell decided to hang up his boots.
KKR grabbed Cameron Green for a massive Rs 25.20 crores during the bidding. That made him the most expensive overseas player ever bought in tournament history. Only two other cricketers have cost more money than him across all auctions combined.
Why KKR Broke the Bank
Abhishek Nayar said losing Russell created a huge gap in their squad composition. They needed an all-rounder who could lead them forward for years to come. Cameron Green fit that description perfectly according to their strategy and planning sessions.
“I cannot say how high we were willing to go for him, but we wanted to go all out. If we have the money, we spend it. There was no point in saving the money. The goal was to do whatever we could to secure Green, as he is a key player for us.
“With Andre Russell gone, we need someone to take the franchise forward. So, we decided we must have Cameron Green,” Nayar said.
The Importance of Cameron Green in T20 Tournaments
The coach believes Green can easily score 500 runs in a single season. His previous performances in the tournament showed he’s capable of such big numbers regularly. KKR wants him batting in the top order where he’s most dangerous.
“We see Cameron Green batting in the top three. He is a player who can score 500 runs for us. That is why we were so desperate to get him. We know he has that ability. He has scored over 500 runs in the IPL before, so he can do well in the top order.
“He solves different problems for us. Over the past few years, our success came when our top three players scored more than 400 runs. The hope is that he can score big runs for us,” he added.
Nayar mentioned there’s no point in saving money when buying crucial players like him. Sometimes you just need to spend big on the right guy at auctions. The team’s success depends heavily on the top three batters crossing 400 runs consistently.
The Strategy Behind Record IPL Price
Their past victories came when top-order batsmen scored heavily throughout seasons before that. Cameron Green slots perfectly into this tested formula they’ve followed successfully earlier too. He’ll contribute with both bat and ball which makes him even more valuable.
KKR also bought New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra to strengthen their batting lineup further. Abhishek Nayar clearly has a vision of building a squad with serious firepower. Their current roster includes quality players like Sunil Narine and Rovman Powell already.
The Rs 25.20 crore IPL price reflects how badly they wanted this Australian star. Green needs to fill Russell’s massive shoes which won’t be easy at all. But KKR’s coaching staff believes they’ve found the perfect replacement for IPL 2026 ahead.
