Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) redefined the market in the IPL 2026 auction (held in December 2025) by securing the most expensive overseas player in league history.
Entering the auction with a massive purse of ₹64.30 crore, the franchise prioritized heavy-hitting all-rounders and elite death bowling.
The following details highlight the top earners for KKR in the 2026 season, including blockbuster auction buys and strategic retentions.
Top 10 Highest-Paid Players – KKR (IPL 2026)
Cameron Green (Auction 2026) – ₹25.20 Crore
Matheesha Pathirana (Auction 2026) – ₹18.00 Crore
Rinku Singh (Retained) – ₹13.00 Crore
Sunil Narine (Retained) – ₹12.00 Crore
Varun Chakravarthy (Retained) – ₹12.00 Crore
Andre Russell (Retained) – ₹12.00 Crore
Venkatesh Iyer (Auction) – ₹6.25 Crore
Harshit Rana (Retained) – ₹4.00 Crore
Ramandeep Singh (Retained) – ₹4.00 Crore
Angkrish Raghuvanshi (Auction) – ₹3.00 Crore
Cameron Green Mega-Deal
Australian all-rounder Cameron Green became KKR’s most expensive signing ever at ₹25.20 crore, surpassing the record previously held by Mitchell Starc (₹24.75 crore). Under new IPL regulations, while his bidding price reached ₹25.20 crore, his actual take-home pay is capped at ₹18 crore, with the surplus diverted to the BCCI’s welfare fund.
Bolstering Bowling Attack
KKR made a massive statement by securing Sri Lankan “Baby Malinga” Matheesha Pathirana for ₹18 crore. This move solidified their death-overs strategy, pairing Pathirana’s pace with the mystery spin of the retained core.
Retained Core
The franchise showed immense faith in its title-winning foundations by retaining four players at double-digit valuations. Rinku Singh leads the domestic retention list at ₹13 crore, while the legendary duo of Sunil Narine and Andre Russell remain central to the team’s identity at ₹12 crore each.
Emerging Value
Young talents like Angkrish Raghuvanshi (₹3 crore) and Tejasvi Singh (₹3 crore) represent the team’s investment in the future, while Venkatesh Iyer remains a high-value asset at ₹6.25 crore, providing flexibility in the top order.