Why overseas stars like Cameron Green can’t earn more than Rs 18 crore? Maximum-fee rule and BCCI’s share explained

Cameron Green is expected to be one of the most sought-after players in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini auction scheduled for later this month. Although there is a strong possibility that Green will spark a bidding spree among franchises in Abu Dhabi on December 16, potentially securing the highest bid in IPL history, the Australian all-rounder will not get more than Rs 18 billion.

At the 2024 auction in Dubai, Australian skipper Pat Cummins momentarily became the first player in league history to cross the Rs 20 Million threshold as Sunrisers Hyderabad secured him for Rs 20.5 Million. However, this record was soon eclipsed by his Australian teammate Mitchell Starc, who was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹24.75 crore in the same auction just a few minutes later.

Green, who did not participate in the mega auction in Jeddah last year due to a back injury after being released by Royal Challengers Bengaluru, is currently among the top contenders ahead of the mini-auction and is seen as a strong candidate to bid highest. This is especially the case as Australian and experienced all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has chosen not to enter his name in the upcoming auction following his release by Punjab Kings.

However, even if Green manages to bag an all-time record-breaking bid (currently owned by Rishabh Pant, who was bought by Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 27 million in last year’s mega auction), he won’t be able to take home the entire sum.

This is due to a regulation recently implemented by the IPL Governing Council that caps the salary of overseas players at Rs 18 million or the “highest auction price in major auction”.

The rule was created shortly after a meeting between the Board of Control for Cricket in India and franchise representatives in Mumbai last year following complaints from franchises that some overseas players were taking advantage of the supply-demand imbalance in mini-auctions to get unprecedented bids.

According to the latest regulation, the bidding process of international players will proceed as usual during the mini-auction. However, the maximum amount a player could receive from the final bid was capped at Rs 18 billion and excess funds were diverted to BCCI. It is important to note that there is no assurance that Green will actually take home Rs 18 crore.

“The bidding fee of any overseas player in the small auction will be lower than the highest holding price [of INR 18 crore] and the highest auction price in the major auction. If the highest auction price in the major auction is 20 billion Indian rupees, the ceiling will be 18 billion Indian rupees. “If the highest auction price in the major auction is 16 billion Indian rupees, then the ceiling will be 16 billion Indian rupees.”

“The incremental amount over 16 or 18 billion Indian rupees, as the case may be, will be deposited with BCCI. The incremental amount deposited with BCCI will be used for the welfare of the players,” the statement added.

Last year, Pant was bought by LSG for a staggering Rs 27 crore in the mega auction. In contrast, Green plans to receive R18 billion from the upcoming mini-auction, regardless of the final bid total.

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