Aakash Chopra Raises Concerns Over Liam Livingstone's High IPL Price Tag
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has openly questioned the substantial price tag attached to English all-rounder Liam Livingstone ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra suggested that the figures are slightly inflated, given Livingstone's lackluster performances in recent years.
Livingstone's Form and SRH's Investment
Liam Livingstone, who has not represented England since the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025 due to a dip in form, was acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for a staggering Rs 13 crores in the auction. This move aims to bolster SRH's hard-hitting batting lineup, which includes players like Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, and Nitish Kumar Reddy. However, Chopra expressed skepticism about whether Livingstone deserves such a hefty sum.
"I am thinking about Liam Livingstone," Chopra said. "He was talking about the lack of communication in the England setup, and that he did not get the same kind of response and messages, and all of that. He has been sold for a lot of money, but let's be honest, the figures are slightly inflated because he has not performed anything like that in the last two or three years to get this much money."
Chopra attributed the high bid to supply-and-demand dynamics in the auction but emphasized that this presents a crucial opportunity for Livingstone to prove his worth. "He would not have gotten so much money had it not been a supply-and-demand issue, but now that he is there, he will get a chance to play, make a difference. This is your opportunity, Liam Livingstone," he added.
Statistical Analysis of Livingstone's Performance
Livingstone's career trajectory shows a stark contrast between his peak and recent struggles. In the 2022 IPL season with Punjab Kings (PBKS), he had a breakout year, scoring 437 runs in 14 innings at an average of 36.42 and a strike rate exceeding 182, including four half-centuries, making him PBKS' second-highest run-scorer.
However, over the past three seasons, his performance has declined significantly. He managed only 502 runs in 27 matches and 25 innings, averaging 22.81 with three fifties and a reduced strike rate of over 150. His international form also suffered, as he scored just 74 runs in five T20I matches for England last year, averaging 14.80 with a strike rate of 127.58 and a best score of 43.
Despite these setbacks, Livingstone's recent performances in English domestic cricket have kept him in the spotlight. In The Hundred for Birmingham Phoenix, he scored 241 runs at an average of 40.16, including a fifty, and took seven wickets. Additionally, in the Vitality Blast for Lancashire, he amassed 260 runs at an average of 52 and a strike rate above 176, with a half-century and six wickets, which helped revive interest from IPL franchises.
Opportunities for SRH's Leadership Duo
Chopra also highlighted the chance for SRH's captain-vice-captain duo, Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma, to shine in the absence of regular captain Pat Cummins, who is injured at the season's start. "It's an opportunity for Abhishek Sharma to make it a 600-700-run season. Ishan Kishan should make such a big captaincy stature that you wish to go towards him, whether Pat Cummins is there or not," he remarked.
Abhishek Sharma had a breakthrough season in 2024, scoring 484 runs in 16 innings at an average of 32.27 and a strike rate over 204, with three fifties and a best score of 75*, including 42 sixes. Since then, he has delivered strong performances for India in T20Is, rising to become the world's number one T20I batter.
Ishan Kishan, on the other hand, has been in exceptional form since leading Jharkhand to their first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title in 2025, where he finished as the top scorer with 517 runs. His performances earned him a recall to India's T20 World Cup squad, where he played a pivotal role in defending the title. At the 2026 T20 World Cup, he scored 317 runs with three fifties, ending as the team's second-highest run-scorer.
SRH signed Ishan Kishan before the IPL 2025 season for Rs 14.5 crore, and he made an immediate impact by smashing a 45-ball century on debut against Rajasthan Royals. However, his form tapered off later in the season, finishing with 354 runs from 13 innings at an average of 35.40.
As the 2026 IPL season approaches, all eyes will be on whether Liam Livingstone can justify his price tag and if SRH's young leaders can capitalize on their opportunities to drive the team's success.
