IPL 2022: Liam Livingstone Excited To Join The Punjab Kings After Being Bought For INR 11.50 Crores

England all-rounder Liam Livingstone hit the jackpot during the second day of the Indian Premier League- IPL 2022 auction after Punjab Kings (PBKS) splurged a whopping INR 11.50 crores for his services. He became the most expensive overseas player this season’s auction. On day one of the auctions Sri Lankan cricketer Wanindu Hasaranga was bought by RCB at ₹10.75 crores.

The hard-hitting batsman from Barrow averages a touch below 40 in First-Class cricket and his devastating strike rate of over 140 in T20 cricket and holds the record for the fastest century in T20Is by any England batter. Liam Livingstone had played previously for Rajasthan Royals but failed to impress much, scoring only 42 runs in five innings in the IPL 2021. He didn’t travel to UAE for the second half of the IPL 2021.

There were two more franchises bidding for him including the PBKS, with others being Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders. Punjab eventually came out on top and roped in the cricketer to their squad.

Punjab Kings then shared a video on their social media accounts with Liam Livingstone sharing a message for the PBKS fans.

He said in the video: “Hello Punjab fans. This is Liam Livingstone here. Just a quick message about how excited I am to represent the Punjab Kings in the IPL 2022. Thanks to all the staff that picked me in the auction today, and I am really excited to get out to India and get the tournament started. Hopefully, see you all soon.”

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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 178.46. He also took five wickets in the tournament and underscored his bowling pedigree with figures of 2 for 22 in the T20 World Cup semifinal against New Zealand.

Jofra Archer Get Huge Bid In IPL 2022 Auction On Second Day

Liam Livingstone was not the only one to see money signs after a bumper bid in the IPL 2022 auction. His England teammate Jofra Archer, who is currently recovering from his surgery, and who will not play in the IPL 2022, yet entered the auction in hopes of finding a buyer, hit a jackpot as well.

The BCCI and IPL had cleared to all the franchises that Archer will be available from the IPL 2023 edition onwards and will not play in IPL 2022, as per England and Wales Cricket board information. And if any franchise buys him, they will not get a replacement player for him in the upcoming IPL 2022.

Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Mumbai Indians fought a tough war for his services with MI coming on top with a winning bid of INR 8 crores.

Also Read: Jofra Archer’s Old Tweet Goes Viral After Mumbai Indians Buy Him For 8 Crores In IPL 2022 Auction