Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have taken the same risk they did last year. The 2-time champions broke the bank for Venkatesh Iyer in 2024 and didn’t hesitate to repeat the action for Cameron Green at the IPL 2026 auction.
KKR’s déjà vu
However, did KKR factor in the ‘price tag pressure’ before waging a battle for Green in Abu Dhabi against the Chennai Super Kings? In IPL 2025, we saw how Venkatesh struggled. He was dropped midway and didn’t even get 150 runs in the season.
We could be in for another repeat with Green. Of course, the difference between the Indian and Australian all-rounders is that the latter has already gone for a record-breaking sum and delivered.
In 2023, the Mumbai Indians (MI) paid INR 17.50 crore for Green, and he delivered his best-ever IPL season. He averaged over 50 and struck at over 160. The next year, he was traded to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and didn’t have the same results. But he knows what it feels like to play while carrying the price tag pressure.
Curran back Green
The same year Green got his big pay cheque, Sam Curran was the most expensive player at INR 18.50 crore. Much like Venkatesh, he struggled and was released after another season by the Punjab Kings. Speaking from experience, Curran talked about how the price tag affects a player but backed Green to succeed.
“Yes and no. I think it’s not the player’s fault that they go for that kind of price. They obviously value the player. Cameron Green’s a fantastic player, so I’m sure he will have a great season, but yeah, the IPL is just getting bigger and bigger, so I guess every year, each record is just going to keep getting broken. It comes with its pressures, but at the same time, I guess as a player, you can have that mindset of if you go for a big price, there’s a reason why. You’re playing well, and obviously the team really wants you, so it’s a good feeling,” Curran told the Times of India.
