Chennai Super Kings Explore England Star's Trade With Sunrisers Hyderabad As IPL Talks Gather Pace

Chennai Super Kings are assessing a move for Liam Livingstone from Sunrisers Hyderabad, with the England all-rounder now at the centre of another exchange offer drawing attention inside the IPL framework before the November 17 retention deadline. The wider talks sit alongside the much-debated Hardik Pandya trade, which is still unresolved.

The discussion involves Livingstone and a few franchises apart from Sunrisers Hyderabad. Sunrisers are believed to be undecided, while interest from another northern franchise may also have surfaced, though that is still only at the discussion stage.

Livingstone Trade Talks

Livingstone is 33 and had a disappointing season last year, making 15 runs in two games before he lost his place in the playing XII, including the Impact Player slot. He was bought by Sunrisers after Royal Challengers Bengaluru released him. RCB had taken him for INR 8.75 crore at the previous mega auction. Sunrisers Hyderabad secured him for INR 13 crore at the last auction.

What CSK would put into the exchange is still unknown, and it is not clear whether Hyderabad would be comfortable with any swap. Some sources say Chennai are open to offering Khaleel Ahmed, though that may not be fully reliable because Sunrisers have only recently added T Natarajan, another veteran left-arm pacer.

“The franchises are certainly discussing Livingstone and another player apart from Khaleel in CSK. Multiple players and multiple franchises are involved in the trade discussions, not just two, and nothing has been finalised,” sources said. “It may or may not go through.”

With the retention deadline coming up on November 17, the parties may not have long to close the deal. At the time of writing, officials from any of the franchises were available for comment.

Pandya Deal Status

Turning to Pandya, the talks are at an advanced stage and involve several franchises, but Mumbai Indians are yet to settle on one deal. Even so, the situation could move quickly, with only two weeks left before the cut-off date for retention if the trade does not happen.