Overseas players won’t be paid more than ₹18 crore at IPL mini-auction

Mini-auctions ahead of an Indian Premier League (IPL) season have often produced record bids, particularly for overseas cricketers. In a move aimed at preserving the value of Indian players — and discouraging foreign stars from targeting mini-auctions for inflated paydays — the IPL authorities have introduced a rule that caps the amount an overseas player can earn at a mini-auction.

As a result, Cameron Green — or any other overseas cricketer — will not be paid more than ₹18 crore at the auction at the Etihad Arena on Tuesday, irrespective of the final bid amount.

Franchises such as Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings, who possess the largest purses, are free to bid beyond that figure. However, the player’s take-home amount will be restricted to ₹18 crore. The provision was communicated to franchises ahead of last year’s mega auction in a document titled ‘IPL Player Regulations 2025–27: Key Points’.

“Any overseas player’s auction fee at a small auction will be the lower of the highest retention price of ₹18 crore or the highest auction price at the Big Auction,” the document states. It further clarifies that while the auction will continue until the player is sold and the full bid will be deducted from the franchise’s purse, any incremental amount above ₹18 crore will be deposited with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and utilised for players’ welfare.

The mechanics of the rule are straightforward. In the 2025 mega auction, Rishabh Pant went to Lucknow Super Giants for ₹27 crore. Should Green — or any other overseas player — attract a similar bid at the mini-auction, the player would receive ₹18 crore, while the remaining ₹9 crore would be transferred to the BCCI, with the franchise’s purse reduced by the full ₹27 crore.

It remains to be seen how the rule influences bidding behaviour. Industry observers believe its impact may be limited in the heat of the auction room. “In a dynamic environment like the auction, where egos and strategy collide, the fact that the player won’t receive the entire bid amount may not matter much,” said a team official, requesting anonymity. “Franchises will always find other ways to compensate players if they really want to.”