The Indian Premier League (IPL) is gearing up for its next season, set to commence on March 28. Currently, only the first 20 match schedules have been released, holding off due to state elections.
In a significant move, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has signed Liam Livingstone for a whopping Rs 13 crore. However, the right-handed batsman hasn’t represented England since the 2025 Champions Trophy, largely due to a dip in form.
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has voiced his thoughts on Livingstone’s hefty price tag, suggesting that it’s inflated given his recent lack of impactful performances. “I’ve been thinking about Liam Livingstone. He mentioned a communication gap within the England team, stating he hasn’t received the same level of feedback and support. While he’s been sold for a considerable amount, we have to admit that his figures are somewhat exaggerated, considering he hasn’t been delivering the kind of performances that justify such a price in the last couple of years,” Chopra remarked on his YouTube channel.
Despite his concerns, Chopra remains optimistic about Livingstone’s potential impact in the IPL 2026. “He wouldn’t have fetched such a high price if not for the supply-and-demand dynamics. Now that he’s on board, he has the chance to play and make a significant difference. This is your moment, Liam Livingstone,” he encouraged.
The tournament will kick off with an exciting match between the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
**IPL 2026 Squads:**
*Royal Challengers Bengaluru:* Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood, Swapnil Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, Krunal Pandya, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Venkatesh Iyer, Phil Salt (WK), Rajat Patidar (C), Nuwan Thushara, Romario Shepherd, Tim David, Devdutt Padikkal, Yash Dayal, Rasikh Salam, Jordan Cox, Jacob Bethell, Vicky Ostwal, Mangesh Yadav, Suyash Sharma, Vihaan Malhotra, Abhinandan Singh, Kanishk Chouhan, Satvik Deswal.
*Sunrisers Hyderabad:* Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Pat Cummins, Heinrich Klaasen (WK), Travis Head, Liam Livingstone, Ishan Kishan (WK), Kamindu Mendis, Brydon Carse, Zeeshan Ansari, Abhishek Sharma, Shivam Mavi, Jack Edwards, Harsh Dubey, Salil Arora (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Amit Kumar, Praful Hinge, Smaran Ravichandran, Eshan Malinga, Sakib Hussain, Aniket Verma, Shivang Kumar, Krains Bhaveshbhai Fuletra, Omkar Tarmale.
(With ANI Inputs)