IPL Auction news: Liam Livingstone bags biggest overseas purse of 2022 so far
England batter Liam Livingstone became the most expensive foreign player in this season’s Indian Premier League (IPL) auction as Punjab Kings snapped him up for $1.52 million.
Livingstone stood out on a cautious final day for the ten teams who splurged millions on Saturday.
The first session on Sunday in Bangalore witnessed England white-ball stars Eoin Morgan and Dawid Malan go unsold.
Livingstone, who hit England’s fastest Twenty20 century in 42 balls in a game against Pakistan last year, played for Rajasthan Royals in the previous edition of the IPL after being bought for $100,000.
The English allrounder attracted a bigger fee than hot properties like Sri Lanka spinner Wanindu Hasaranga and the West Indies wicketkeeper batter Nicholas Pooran as the two won bids for $1.42 million each on day one.
Punjab Kings, one of the franchises still searching for their first IPL title in 14 seasons, also bagged West Indies pace bowler and CPL hero Odean Smith for nearly $800,000.
Both Livingstone, who can also bowl off-spin and leg-spin, and Smith came up off of base prices of $130,000.
South African quick Marco Jansen returns to the IPL after enjoying a solid opening season with the Mumbai Indians.
Jansen jumped from his base price of $66,000 to get $558,000 from 2016 IPL winners Sunrisers Hyderabad.
India batter Ishan Kishan fetched an impressive $2 million on day one after Mumbai repurchased the wicketkeeper batter. Kishan returns to the franchise that has won a record five titles.
Mumbai Indians have also secured the services of Singapore’s Tim David and England allrounder Jofra Archer.
India Under 19 Cricket World Cup-winning captain Yash Dhull was snapped up by Delhi Capitals.
South Africa’s Chris Morris remains the most expensive IPL player ever, having sold for a whopping $2.23 million last year.
The teams have been bidding for 590 foreign and Indian players in the auction to reset their teams after retaining few of their top players.
The 15th edition of the IPL is set to begin in late March, with the BCCI planning on holding the final in May.