IPL 2026 Auction: Irfan Pathan feels Cameron Green, Daryl Mitchell will have massive interest from CSK, KKR

The Indian Premier League 2026 Mini-Auction is right around the corner, and ahead of the cash-rich event, the franchises are all lined up to pick from the list of top 350 players going under the hammer. While the majority of the names remain Indians, there are 110 overseas players who have made their way in. All-rounders Cameron Green and Daryl Mitchell are among the top names who have drawn attention.

Former cricketer Irfan Pathan discussed why Green will attract strong interest from teams like Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings at the auction, as both the sides are looking at like-for-like replacements for Andre Russell and Sam Curran, respectively. Irfan believes that someone like Green will go to the team who are willing to spend a big chunk of their auction purse on a quality overseas all-rounder.

“Cameron Green is a top-quality all-rounder, and with KKR entering the auction with a sizeable purse, they’ll surely target him. With Andre Russell retired, Green offers a like-for-like replacement — someone who can contribute with both bat and ball, though he’ll probably bat a bit higher in the order. I expect CSK to show interest too,” Irfan said via JioStar's pre-auction show.

Irfan, who himself has been a part of five IPL teams during his active days in the marquee league, has said that the BlackCaps' Daryl Mitchell is also a quality inclusion for any side to have in their arsenal ahead of the 2026 season. The Baroda-born feels that CSK might once again opt to get Mitchell on board by paying something around INR 14 crore, if they cannot get their hands on Green.

“Daryl Mitchell is a quality overseas batter who plays spin exceptionally well — that’s exactly why Chennai Super Kings invested heavily in him earlier, paying around 14 crore. His ability to handle spin on tricky surfaces like Chennai’s makes him a strong asset. With solid experience in both international and league cricket, he brings the temperament and skill teams look for in a proven overseas performer,” Irfan shared.