Wisden’s combined IPL 2026 auction XI (and Impact Player) that costs less than Cameron Green

Green was widely touted to be one of the top picks at the IPL 2026 auction. The Kolkata Knight Riders came to the auction with a budget of INR 64.3 crore (the highest). Since their long-standing star all-rounder Andre Russell had recently retired, they needed a seam-bowling all-rounder.

KKR duly acquired Green for INR 25.2 crore – the highest price for any overseas cricketer in the history of IPL auctions as well as the highest at the highest price for any cricketer at a mini-auction. Rishabh Pant (INR 27 crore) and Shreyas Iyer (INR 26.75 crore) are the only cricketers who went for a higher price: both attained these rates at the IPL 2025 mega-auction.

It may not be easy to fathom how mind-boggling Green’s price was even if one takes into account the fact that the rates have been going higher over time (the top ten entries on the all-time list are all from 2023 or later).

So high was Green’s price that it is possible to create an entire XII (including the Impact Player) from the IPL 2026 auction for a price more than a crore lower than the amount.

Wisden’s IPL 2026 auction XI (and Impact Player)

Quinton de Kock and David Miller, two T20 batters of global repute, went at their base prices, as did Prithvi Shaw and Rahul Tripathi, both with impressive IPL records, and Sarfaraz Khan, who has impressed during the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. De Kock will double as the wicketkeeper.

Among bowlers, Wanindu Hasaranga, Shivam Mavi (both of whom can bat), Akash Deep, and Matt Henry all went for their base prices as well. If we add the final prices of these nine cricketers, we reach a mere INR 11 crore – less than half of Green’s amount.

That gives us enough room to pick both Venkatesh Iyer and Rahul Chahar, who combined for INR 12.2 crore. Among these two former IPL champions, Iyer can chip in with the odd over.

That still gives us INR 1.95 crore to play with for the 12th cricketer: let us go with Ashok Sharma, the Rajasthan bowler who can generate serious pace and the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The only uncapped player in this XII, he has been part of the KKR and RR squads previously.