Punjab Kings splash the cash for Liam Livingstone
England all-rounder Liam Livingstone became the highest overseas player signed (so far) at the IPL 2022 auction after Punjab Kings acquired his services with a winning bid of INR 11.50 crore early on the second day of the two-day event. The 28-year-old, who played for Rajasthan Royals last season, sparked an early bidding war between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. Punjab Kings entered the fray only at INR 4.2 crore but then stayed the course to ward off late bids from Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad to land the player.
A powerful stroke-player, Livingstone turned heads at the inaugural season of The Hundred, where he was named Player of the tournament after scoring his 348 runs at a strike-rate of of 178.46. He also took five wickets in the tournament. Incidentally, Dan Weston, the analyst at Livingstone's Birmingham Phoenix reprises the same role at Punjab Kings.
All-rounders find good value on Day 2
The Kings continued to shop in the all-rounders' set and snapped up West Indies' Odean Smith for INR 6 crore. They also bid for Aiden Markram (SRH, INR 2.6 crore) and Shivam Dube (CSK, INR 4 crore) before being outbid. Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad managed to prize away rising South African star Marco Jansen from Mumbai Indians with a winning bid of INR 4.2 crore.
Left is still right
Even amid dwindling budgets, left-arm seamers attracted good bids on the second afternoon of the mega auction, with Khaleel Ahmed heading that list after earning an INR 5.25 crore bid from Delhi Capitals, who tussled hard with Mumbai Indians for the bowler's services. The Capitals, who were already reasonably stocked in the fast bowling department, then forked out INR 4.2 crore for Chetan Sakariya. Mumbai Indians signed the experienced Jaydev Unadkat for INR 1.3 crore.
