Liam Livingstone and Jay Shah (Source: X and AFP)
Liam Livingstone has been in the news following his comments about the IPL 2026. The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) player recently spoke about the tournament's batting-friendly conditions.
The England all-rounder also stated that the competition had become less exciting because of the large number of high-scoring matches. His remarks quickly went viral and were criticised by fans on social media.
However, a separate clip from the same podcast has now surfaced in which Livingstone is seen talking about the Indian cricket.
Liam Livingstone Questions IPL's High-Scoring Nature
Speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast, Livingstone shared his views on the IPL's batting-friendly conditions.
According to him, the flat pitches and the Impact Player rule have made batting easier, resulting in several one-sided contests dominated by big scores.
The IPL 2026 season witnessed several teams crossing the 200-run mark, with massive totals being chased down successfully.
Liam Livingstone admitted that while such matches may be entertaining for spectators, they were not always enjoyable for players.
"I think there are three ways in the IPL. You are either playing, locked in and everything is kind of set out for you. There’s like a fringe where you may or may not. And your thoughts are, ‘If I play, this is how it’s going to go."
Also Read: SRH Release List After IPL 2026- Players Set To Be Out Before IPL 2027
"Me this year, when I went there we got a lad in the auction that Mumbai Indians really wanted but we had more money, so we ended up getting him. The owners loved him.
"So he was locked in to play for us. When we didn’t have Cummins, we were playing only three overseas (players). So I asked Dan (Head coach Dan Vettori), why we are playing only three overseas?” Livingstone said in the Stick to Cricket podcast.
The England star also opened up about his difficult season with Sunrisers Hyderabad. He revealed that the team management preferred another overseas player who was highly valued by the franchise owners.
Livingstone claimed that this player was almost guaranteed a place in the playing XI.
Livingstone Praises India's Cricket Depth
In another clip from the same podcast, Liam Livingstone spoke highly of Indian cricket and praised the country's incredible pool of talent.
The England all-rounder stated that India has enough quality cricketers to field four international-level teams.
He also took the example of young fast bowler Sakib Hussain, describing him as a highly talented player who had made a strong impression during IPL 2026.
These positive remarks, however, led many fans to accuse Liam Livingstone of changing his stance after facing backlash.
Watch the video here:
Liam Livingstone In IPL 2026
Livingstone entered IPL 2026 with high expectations after SRH secured his services for ₹13 crore at the auction. However, his campaign turned out to be disappointing.
The all-rounder played only two matches during the season. He scored 14 runs from 20 balls against Lucknow Super Giants and managed just one run off 5 balls against Chennai Super Kings.
With limited opportunities and poor performances, IPL 2026 was a difficult season for Livingstone.
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