Star Australian all-rounder Cameron Green has become the biggest headline of the IPL 2026 mini-auction, not just for his skillset but for a strategic decision that has grabbed significant attention. The Australian, who is a genuine pace-bowling all-rounder, has surprisingly registered himself as a batter instead of an all-rounder. Notably, the reasoning behind it is calculated considering the dynamics of a mini-auction.
Why did Cameron Green list himself as a batter in the IPL 2026 mini-auction?
In mini-auctions, the batters’ list is presented first, followed by all-rounders
and bowlers. Green knows that if he had placed himself in the all-rounders category, there was a strong chance his name would come much later, at a time when multiple teams may have already spent heavily on other players. By choosing the 'batter' category, he ensures that his name comes up early, when franchise purses are fullest. Green is positioning himself for maximum visibility and maximum bidding for himself.
BCCI rule another major factor in Green's decision
There’s another factor in the decision, considering the new BCCI maximum-fee rule for overseas players. Under this regulation, no overseas cricketer can be paid more than INR 18 crore in a mini-auction, even if the final bid goes above that number. Anything above INR 18 crore goes into the BCCI’s central pool instead of the player’s pocket.
With Green already having been bought for INR 17.5 crore in 2023, he is fully aware that he will likely touch the 18-crore mark again, given the thin all-rounder market and the massive purses of teams like KKR (INR 64.3 crore) and CSK (INR 43.4 crore). So, by getting his name called early, Green gives himself the best chance of reaching that cap-maximising the amount he can actually take home before the rule kicks in.
Franchises are seeing Green as a massive value. KKR has a void of replacing an all-rounder like Andre Russell and the funds to fill it, making them early favourites. CSK, revamping after a poor season, loves multi-skill players who can adapt to Chepauk conditions. Across teams, the interest is extremely high, which Green is aware of. By registering as a batter, he places himself where the bidding war triggers.
