England all-rounder Liam Livingstone has found a new home in the IPL after Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) acquired him for Rs 13 crore in the accelerated round of the IPL 2026 mini-auction. The signing came after Livingstone was initially unsold earlier in the auction, despite entering with a base price of Rs 2 crore.
From unsold to bidding war
Livingstone’s name surprisingly went unpicked in the first round of bidding, as franchises appeared cautious due to recent form and squad balance considerations. However, the dynamic middle-order batter came back into focus during the accelerated round, triggering a late bidding contest between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
LSG pushed hard for the England international despite operating under clear constraints. The franchise had only Rs 13.15 crore left in their purse and already had 24 players in their squad, meaning they could sign just one more player. LSG continued bidding aggressively but were eventually forced to step back when SRH crossed the Rs 13 crore mark, with the next bid going beyond LSG’s remaining purse.
SRH ultimately sealed the deal, landing Livingstone for Rs 13 crore.
IPL career and credentials
Livingstone has featured in 49 IPL matches, scoring 1,051 runs at an average of 26.28 and a strike rate of 158.76, underlining his reputation as one of the most destructive T20 batters in the middle order. He has also contributed with the ball, picking up 13 wickets.
He has represented Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru during his IPL career. His standout season came in IPL 2022 with Punjab Kings, where he amassed 437 runs at a strike rate of 182.08 and chipped in with six wickets, emerging as one of the tournament’s most impactful overseas players.
Ahead of IPL 2025, Livingstone was bought by RCB for Rs 8.75 crore, but a difficult season followed. He managed only 112 runs in 10 innings, which led to his release before the IPL 2026 auction.
SRH take the late plunge
Despite the early hesitation from franchises, SRH’s decision to go all-in during the accelerated round reflects their belief in Livingstone’s match-winning upside. With his ability to clear boundaries at will and offer part-time bowling options, the England all-rounder adds firepower and flexibility to the Sunrisers Hyderabad setup.
For Livingstone, the move marks a dramatic turnaround—from going unsold to becoming one of the most expensive buys of the accelerated round—setting up a fresh opportunity to rediscover his best form in IPL 2026.
