New Delhi, Dec 15 (NationPress) Australia's seam bowling all-rounder Cameron Green has reaffirmed his position as the most coveted player ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, securing a staggering Rs 30.5 crore from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) during a mock bidding session.

Although registered as a batter due to an oversight by his manager during the player auction registration, Green is anticipated to be fiercely contested by both KKR and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) when the actual auction takes place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

“I was aware that CSK would also target a middle-order all-rounder. I estimated their bid would fall between Rs 25–28 crore. Realistically, I think they might reach around Rs 20 crore in the actual auction, as they will need to allocate funds for other Indian and overseas players as well,” stated JioStar expert and former India player Robin Uthappa, who represented KKR in the mock auction held on Monday.

In the mock auction, Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana was acquired by KKR for Rs 13 crore. “It’s all about strategic planning and simplicity. We needed a reliable death bowler. With KKR's current coaching staff, Pathirana can be quite effective in crunch situations. He has been slightly off form recently and has returned to the auction pool, which I believe will motivate him to perform better,” Uthappa added.

“A franchise change can also be beneficial. With Pathirana, Varun Chakravarthy, and Vaibhav Arora, if you're inquiring about the first XI, it would be Vaibhav Arora. Additionally, Varun has been honing his batting skills; he’s close to being able to clear the ropes as well,” Uthappa commented.

Former India cricketer Suresh Raina, representing CSK in the mock exercise, shared his thoughts on selecting Sarfaraz Khan for Rs 7 crore. “He is in fantastic form. We saw earlier that when Venkatesh Iyer was bought for a hefty price, his form wasn’t up to par. Sarfaraz, however, is currently batting exceptionally well. Players with his range of shots and confidence are hard to come by,” Raina stated.

“Given Sarfaraz's current form, even if he plays just four to six matches and wins two games, that Rs 7 crore will be well justified. Following his performances in first-class cricket, he has also earned a spot in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He’s a player in form, working through a process. The conditions at Chennai are technically sound, and if he fits into a system like CSK, where the focus is on winning, I believe they will benefit greatly from his contributions,” he elaborated.

On CSK's overall auction strategy, Raina discussed acquiring leg-spinners Rahul Chahar and Wanindu Hasaranga, as well as pacer Anrich Nortje. “I believe we've targeted critical areas during the auction preparations. We acquired Rahul Chahar as a leg-spinner and Wanindu Hasaranga since we lack Jadeja and Ashwin. Our pace attack has also been strengthened with Anrich Nortje, who can consistently bowl yorkers,” Raina noted.

“It was essential to bring in Sarfaraz Khan, who is in remarkable form. You’ll see young talents like Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Sanju Samson, and Shivam Dube being part of the strategy. There are numerous young faces involved, which is crucial. When new players joined previously, even after losing two or three matches, the youngsters responded positively,” he added.

“You need that fire—players who go out and express themselves without fear. In the main auction, many more players will be available. CSK might even consider acquiring Matheesha Pathirana again, especially given their concerns about death bowling. That will be a significant focus area for them,” he concluded.