Abu Dhabi, Due to the unavailability of world-class fast-bowling all-rounders, Cameron Green could be in an advantageous position at the Indian Premier League mini-auction scheduled for Tuesday here, and teams like Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings could place big bids for this Australian cricketer.

Ten teams will participate in the auction to buy 77 players, and collectively, all teams have a total purse of 237.55 crore rupees available. However, Mumbai Indians will not play a major role in the auction as they have only 2.75 crore rupees available and will only be able to buy some uncapped players (those who have not played international cricket) at their base price.

Heavy bidding is expected for Green, Venkatesh Iyer who is out of the Indian team, and England’s aggressive batsman Liam Livingstone. Kolkata Knight Riders have the largest available purse of 64.30 crore rupees and their focus will be on rebuilding the team. The team needs to buy 13 players and is expected to face its main challenge in the auction from Super Kings, who have a purse of 43.40 crore rupees available.

All-rounders to be the biggest focus in the mini auction

The mini auction is always more interesting than the mega auction because franchises come with specific preferences and are willing to go to any extent to acquire players with different skill sets. Big bids have always been placed for fast-bowling all-rounders. In view of this, Green, Venkatesh Iyer, and West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder are among the players with the highest base price of two crore rupees.

Green has made an impact in the IPL. In addition to scoring 704 runs in 29 matches, he has also taken 16 wickets. He plays regularly for Australia in all formats, and thus, he is almost certain to be a center of attraction in the auction. As far as Venkatesh is concerned, everyone except the Knight Riders’ CEO Venky Mysore believes that the amount of 23.75 crore rupees in the auction was quite high, and in his worst season, this all-rounder remained busy trying to justify that amount.

The team has also released Andre Russell, and he will be the Knight Riders’ new ‘Power Coach’. Knight Riders therefore need two good top-order batsmen and an all-rounder. Although there may not be as much buzz around the third fast-bowling all-rounder Holder, he is capable of aggressive batting as well as effective bowling, and teams could place big bids for him amidst limited options.

Big bids in IPL auction, but rules will put a brake on salary

There is talk that Green could surpass his compatriot Mitchell Starc (24.75 crore rupees) to become the most expensive foreign player in the IPL auction, but there is a catch here. Even if Green’s bid exceeds 25 crore rupees, his salary for this season will still remain 18 crore rupees.

The bid amount and the players’ salaries will be separate, with the bid amount being deducted from the team’s total annual player salary. The reason for this is the IPL’s ‘Maximum Fee’ rule, according to which, in a mini auction, the maximum fee for any foreign player will be the lower of the highest price (18 crore rupees) for a retained player and the highest bid (27 crore rupees for Rishabh Pant in 2025) from the previous mega auction.

In Venkatesh’s case, it will be interesting to see if his bid goes above 10 crore rupees, which would be a bid considering his skill and capability. There is no option to use a Right To Match (RTM) card in the mini auction, so if Knight Riders want to get Venkatesh back, they will have to make some smart decisions.

Star foreign and uncapped players to be in focus at IPL auction

England’s star player Livingstone, who also bowls spin, and South Africa’s Quinton de Kock could also touch the figure of 10 million dollars (9 crore rupees). De Kock has repeatedly shown that he is a match-winner with the bat and is also very reliable as a wicketkeeper. Uncapped Indians Prashant Veer and Mukul Chaudhary will attract bidders, while Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan will also hope to find

Indian Premier League

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a professional Twenty20 cricket league founded in 2008 by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It revolutionized the sport by blending high-octane cricket with entertainment, featuring city-based franchise teams. Its creation was inspired by the success of domestic leagues in other sports and it has since grown into one of the world’s most-watched and lucrative sporting events.

Kolkata Knight Riders

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are a professional cricket franchise based in Kolkata, India, competing in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Founded in 2008, the team is co-owned by Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan and others, and it has become one of the league’s most popular and successful teams, winning the IPL championship in 2012 and 2014.

Chennai Super Kings

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are a professional cricket franchise based in Chennai, India, competing in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Founded in 2008, the team is one of the league’s most successful and popular, having won multiple IPL titles under the iconic leadership of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Its history is marked by a massive, loyal fanbase known as the “Yellow Army” and a brief two-year suspension from the league from 2016 to 2017.

Mumbai Indians

The Mumbai Indians are a professional cricket franchise based in Mumbai, India, and are one of the founding members of the Indian Premier League (IPL), established in 2008. Owned by India’s largest conglomerate, Reliance Industries, they are the most successful team in IPL history, having won the championship a record five times (as of 2023). The team plays its home matches at the iconic Wankhede Stadium and has featured legendary Indian players like Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma.

West Indies

The West Indies is a historical term for the islands of the Caribbean Sea, which were mistakenly named by Christopher Columbus in 1492 when he believed he had reached the Indies of Asia. The region’s history is deeply marked by European colonization, the transatlantic slave trade, and the plantation economy, leading to a diverse cultural heritage that blends African, European, and indigenous influences. Today, it comprises numerous independent nations and territories known for their vibrant cultures, languages, and complex historical legacy.

Australia

Australia is both a continent and a nation with a rich cultural history spanning over 65,000 years of continuous Indigenous habitation. Modern Australia began with British colonization in 1788, evolving into a federated Commonwealth in 1901. Today, it is known for its diverse landscapes, unique wildlife, and a multicultural society shaped by waves of immigration.

England

England is a country within the United Kingdom, historically formed by the union of early medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Its long and influential history includes the Norman Conquest in 1066, the establishment of constitutional monarchy, and the central role it played in the Industrial Revolution and the British Empire. Today, it is known for its global cultural impact, historic landmarks like Stonehenge and the Tower of London, and institutions such as the monarchy and Parliament.

South Africa

South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of the African continent, renowned for its diverse landscapes, wildlife, and multicultural society often described as the “Rainbow Nation.” Its modern history is profoundly shaped by colonialism and the institutionalized racial segregation of apartheid, which ended in 1994 with the country’s first democratic elections and the presidency of Nelson Mandela. Today, it is a constitutional democracy with a rich cultural heritage spanning indigenous groups, and European and Asian influences.