After buying Australian Cameron Green for a whopping ₹25.20 crore in the Indian Premier League 2026 auction held in Abu Dhani on Tuesday (December 16, 2025), Kolkata Knight Riders CEO Venky Mysore issued a statement.

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Giving below the transcript of the media interaction with Venky Mysore, CEO, Kolkata Knight Riders

On Cameron Green

First of all, we are very happy. This is something that we were really focused on and hoping always fingers crossed because often anything can happen. I think we were quite happy with the price that we have got. You know, there was always a concern that had it gone higher than what we have done. I think the fact is that we were very keen but not so attached. So, at some level if we felt that it would affect our auction, rest of the auction, we will let it go. And so, fortunately that didn’t happen. It came within the range that we were extremely happy with that. I think he adds a lot to our team and especially with our new power coach (Andre Russell) who is on board, I think it’s a very nice thing to have a young one on the field. We know what he does at the international stage with the vibe, with the ball, position in which he plays. So, couldn’t be happier in the new conditions.

On ₹18 cr cap

I don’t think the rules, I think the rules, the BCCI has made it with their wisdom on capping it at 18 crores. From our standpoint, I don’t think there is any concern in that regard because whether it had gone to the player this way, this is something that’s an off-goal for the franchise. So, we are okay. We are okay with that. And I don’t think it changes anything as far as the options are concerned.

How far you would have gone for Green?

It’s tough to say that. I think a lot of it would have depended on the rest of the plans and what’s happening. But I think we will be getting close, is what I can tell you.

Venky price correction?

It’s so difficult to give an answer to that because a lot of it, we didn’t go for him and how all of these things work. But he has been a terrific player for us. It’s just one of these things that happens in an auction. When you are faced with an auction, you have opportunities to think about your strategy. And if that strategy is taking you in a slightly different direction, sometimes these are things that happen. Not for the first time or the last time for us, or for that matter, other deans as well. So it’s a bit sad for us, but that’s the way all of these things go.

On the bidding war for Green

No surprises. We were all prepared. We tried to prepare as much as possible. The surprise was Rajasthan coming in. We knew they were there for us to bid. So we knew that it was maybe to warm up the room for whatever it was for us. But that’s okay. That happens and that’s absolutely fine. But no surprises at all. We tried our best to get it at a level that would have worked for them perhaps. But we were just happy to have that one.

On KKR’s auction strategy

I think the impact, we have an amazing impact. We had to sort of hit a reset button for a number of reasons. And now we have a new power coach as well. I think the main thrust when they figured out for us what kind of structure that will allow us to be a very competitive team. Just by last year we were missing out on a couple of areas. So based on that, this structure, we have more work to do. But it’s been a good start for us.