Dale Steyn explains why Liam Livingstone is valuable all-rounder
New Delhi, December 14
Legendary South African cricketer Dale Steyn has opened up about why England star player Liam Livingstone is a valuable all-rounder.
Speaking on the 'TATA IPL Auction Most Wanted' show, JioStar expert Dale Steyn praised Livingstone's quality of contributing with the bat and bowl. He added that the England all-rounder brings extensive experience from playing across global leagues.
"Liam Livingstone is the kind of player who can clear any boundary with ease and will be highly sought after by most teams. He also contributes with the ball, bowling both leg-spin and off-spin, and brings plenty of experience from playing leagues worldwide. He's the sort of batter who creates a fear factor -- captains often bring on their best bowlers early when he's at the crease," former South Africa cricketer Steyn said.
Ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) parted ways with the England all-rounder Livingstone.
The 32-year-old played 10 matches in the IPL 2025 season. Livingstone scored 112 runs in 10 games, including one half-century. With the ball, he picked up just wickets.
IPL has finalised the list of players for the 2026 season. The list features 350 players who will be up for bidding at the upcoming auction in Abu Dhabi on December 16.
Out of 1,390 players who registered for the auction, 350 were shortlisted, including 240 Indian and 110 overseas players. The pool also includes 224 uncapped Indian players and 14 uncapped overseas players, bringing fresh talent and depth to this year's auction.
RCB Retained Players: Rajat Patidar, Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Krunal Pandya, Josh Hazlewood, Tim David, Jitesh Sharma, Devdutt Padikkal, Nuwan Thushara, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Bethell, Romario Shepherd, Suyash Sharma, Swapnil Singh, Yash Dayal, Abhinandan Singh, Rasikh Dar.
RCB Released Players: Swastik Chikara, Mayank Agarwal, Tim Seifert, Liam Livingstone, Manoj Bhandage, Lungi Ngidi, Blessing Muzarabani, Mohit Rathee.
— ANI
Reader Comments
His ability to bowl both leg and off spin is a huge asset in T20. Captains love that flexibility. But honestly, with only 110 overseas slots, teams might look for more consistent performers. Excited to see who picks him up!
RCB's release list is interesting. Letting go of Livingstone and Mayank Agarwal shows they're clearing space. Maybe they're targeting a big all-rounder like Stoinis or Green in the auction? The Abu Dhabi auction will be spicy! 🔥
Respectfully, I think we overhype overseas players sometimes. 224 uncapped Indian players in the pool! That's where the real future is. Hope teams invest in our domestic talent. Livingstone is good, but let's not forget the local heroes.
As a cricket fan, Livingstone on his day is pure entertainment. But T20 leagues are brutal - you need consistency. His experience across the world is valuable, but the numbers have to back it up. A fresh start might be just what he needs.
Steyn knows what he's talking about. A player who forces the opposition to change plans is gold. But IPL auctions are also about value for money. If Livingstone goes for a high price, the pressure will be immense. Can he handle it?
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.