CSK Plot Big Move For Rs 13 Crore Star, SRH Yet To Take Final Call: Report

With a lot of talk around the rumoured potential trade of Hardik Pandya, a new report has shifted attention to Sunrisers Hyderabad player Liam Livingstone. Chennai Super Kings are reportedly looking at possible options to include the English player in their squad. Livingstone was bought by SRH for Rs 13 crore ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026. He played two matches for the side that season, scoring 15 runs. Livingstone's poor form kept him out of the playing XI (including as an Impact Player) for the rest of the edition.

The report was published by Cricbuzz, with the news outlet also mentioning that another northern franchise might have shown interest in the player. It, however, added that SRH are yet to take a decision regarding the matter.

Livingstone made his IPL debut in 2019 after Rajasthan Royals bought him for Rs 50 lakh. His value went up significantly for IPL 2021. The next auction proved to be extremely lucrative for the England star as Punjab Kings paid a whopping Rs 11.5 crore for him at the IPL 2022 auction. He was released by the side ahead of IPL 2025, and RCB bought him for Rs 8.75 crore.

Latest update on potential Hardik trade

Punjab Kings have edged ahead of others in the race to secure the services of Hardik via a trade deal with Mumbai Indians, claimed an IANS report.

Apart from PBKS, who have been very aggressive in pursuing Pandya, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have also been in the running to acquire the premier seam-bowling all-rounder, the news agency reported.

"Yes, this is true that as of now, Punjab Kings have their noses ahead to get Pandya. If all falls in place, as per the verbal discussions between the top management of the two teams, the formal paperwork to complete Pandya's trade can start soon and then the approval from the IPL officials will be sought," a source tracking the development told IANS on Tuesday.

Under the proposed swap, IANS understands that if Pandya goes to PBKS, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh and wicketkeeper-batter Vishnu Vinod are likely to head to MI. Arshdeep is currently in New Zealand, where he is part of India's fast-bowling attack in the five-match ODI series that starts in Auckland on Wednesday.

Vinod, meanwhile, was part of the MI set-up in IPL 2023 and played four games for them. PBKS' rivals in the race to secure Pandya's services appear to have fallen behind. KKR, who need a new captain following Ajinkya Rahane's retirement, did reach an advanced stage in talks with MI over Pandya's trade.

But the three-time winners were unwilling to part with their core players, and the talks did not result in a deal. RR, the inaugural champions, have also been keen to acquire Pandya by offering Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ravi Bishnoi to MI in exchange, but there has not been much progress. LSG's attempts to land Pandya did not make much headway. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were also said to have shown early interest, but it did not develop further.

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