Lucknow Super Giants’ aggressive pursuit of Liam Livingstone at the IPL 2026 mini-auction came to an abrupt halt after the franchise ran out of available purse, forcing them to withdraw from the bidding despite strong intent to secure the England all-rounder.
Livingstone, who had earlier gone unsold in the initial rounds, re-entered the spotlight during the accelerated round, triggering a late bidding battle between LSG and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). LSG showed clear interest and stayed in the contest until financial constraints left them with no room to continue.
Purse pressure proves decisive
At the time of the accelerated bidding, Lucknow Super Giants had only Rs 13.15 crore remaining and already had 24 players in their squad. With the IPL squad limit capped at 25 players, LSG were in a position to sign just one final player, making every bid a high-stakes call.
The franchise matched SRH bid-for-bid until the price touched Rs 13 crore. When Sunrisers Hyderabad raised the paddle again, the next bid went beyond LSG’s remaining purse, automatically ruling them out of the contest under auction rules.
As a result, LSG were forced to step aside, and SRH secured Livingstone for Rs 13 crore.
Missed opportunity for LSG
LSG’s interest in Livingstone highlighted their desire to add an experienced overseas power-hitter to their middle order. However, limited budget flexibility and a near-complete squad ultimately worked against them.
The situation underlined the importance of auction purse management, especially in the accelerated rounds, where late opportunities can emerge but require financial headroom.
SRH capitalise as LSG bow out
While LSG exited due to purse constraints, SRH capitalised on the moment, backing Livingstone’s proven IPL pedigree and match-winning potential. For Lucknow, the episode marked one of the most notable near-misses of the IPL 2026 auction—where intent was clear, but the purse limit proved decisive.
With their squad now complete, LSG will head into IPL 2026 without Livingstone, while SRH add a high-impact all-rounder who slipped through the cracks earlier in the auction.
