The TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is just six days away, as all teams are gearing up for the upcoming rich cash league. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has been one of the most dangerous batting sides in the league. They can score 300 runs in T20 cricket at present, with the likes of Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Travis Head, and Liam Livingstone.
Ahead of the IPL, former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) opener Aakash Chopra has lashed out at Liam Livingstone for not performing in the IPL over the years and yet getting a huge amount in the auction. The England batter has been sold to SRH for a whopping price of INR 13.00 crores. He was one of the top expensive buys for the franchise.
He didn’t get the same kind of response- Aakash Chopra
Aakash said, “I am thinking about Liam Livingstone. He was talking about the lack of communication in the England setup, and that he didn’t get the same kind of response and messages, and all of that.”
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Aakash finds out the real reason for Liam Livingstone’s getting so much money. The former India opener believes that the demand for players like him is very high and there are only a few players who can bowl leg spin and firepower in the middle or lower middle order.
He[Liam Livingstone] hasn’t performed- Chopra takes a dig
Aaaksh further stated, “He has been sold for a lot of money, but let’s be honest, the figures are slightly inflated because he hasn’t performed anything like that in the last two or three years to get this much money.”
“He wouldn’t 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.”
Aakash Chopra highlights Ishan Kishan’s chances as captain
Aakash Chopra also highlighted that it is a big opportunity for Abhishek Sharma to score runs and lead the side from the front with the bat. Ishan Kishan has been named as the captain in the absence of Pat Cummins, and Chopra also feels Ishan would want to capitalise this chance and be a regular captain for the franchise.
“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.”
SRH will be missing their regular captain, Pat Cummins, for the first few matches. The Australia World Cup-winning captain has not fully recovered from the back injury. He even missed out on four Ashes games earlier this year. Cummins led the side to the 2024 final of the competition; however, they failed to win the second title.
Ishan Kishan has been announced as the captain for the Orange Army. He will be leading the side in the absence of the veteran Australian pacer. Kishan, as a captain, led Jharkhand to win the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) earlier this year and has been in excellent form with the bat during the T20 World Cup 2026.
Also Read: Ishan Kishan set to apply SMAT-winning strategy at SRH
