IPL 2022 Auction: Rs 11.5 crore for Liam Livingstone is a gamble from Punjab Kings, says Sanjay Manjrekar
India Today
IPL 2022 Auction: Liam Livingstone, who was sold for Rs 75 lakh last year, became the most expensive overseas player of the ongoing mega auction in Bengaluru after PBKS bought him for R 11.5 crore.
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar on Sunday said Punjab Kings paying Rs 11.50 crore is a bit of a gamble, considering his performances in the previous season of the Indian Premier League. Livingstone became the costliest overseas player at the IPL 2022 mega auction after triggering a bidding war on Day 2 as teams were willing to splash the clash.
Livingstone, a reputed big-hitter from England who bowls handy leg-spin, had interest from Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Gujarat Titans and SunRisers Hyderabad before Punjab Kings placed the winning bid of Rs 11.5 crore.
IPL 2022 Auction: Day 2 Live Updates
Livingstone saw a massive jump in price as he was sold at his base price of Rs 75 lakh to Rajasthan Royals last year. However, the England star struggled to get going for the Royals, managing just 42 runs in 5 matches before he was dropped from the team.
Manjrekar said he always believes in proven talents getting big money and that he was surprised with the teams' interest in Livingstone after his ordinary season for the Royals last year.
"Before the auction, I said that one of the best performers in the auction have been Punjab Kings. They have got some significant players, Mayank Agarwal, Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow, Harpreet Brar was a great selection. They have retained Arshdeep which is a great decision. They have got Rabada and they have got Rahul Chahar. These are formidable proven IPL talents. They had a lot of money left as they didn't spend a lot on their above-mentioned picks," Manjrekar told Star Sports.
"I still maintain that Liam Livingstone is a gamble, considering his previous IPL experience. Odeon Smith is a story that we have seen many times before. Owners get excited about the talent that they see outside and sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't.
