Overview
- On Thursday, Livingstone told podcasters that IPL 2026 featured unusually flat pitches and the Impact Player rule, which he said produced relentless six‑hitting and reduced the visible skill in many matches.
- He alleged Sunrisers Hyderabad owners influenced selection decisions, recounting a conversation with coach Daniel Vettori that an uncapped player was effectively 'locked in' to the XI.
- Livingstone was bought by SRH for INR 13 crore but played only two matches in the tournament, a gap between contract value and on‑field opportunity that he said affected his mindset.
- He praised 15‑year‑old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as a once‑in‑a‑generation talent whose ball‑striking stood out even in a season of extreme scoring.
- Separately, Livingstone described Virat Kohli as preferring a quieter family life in London and credited RCB coaches Mo Bobat and Andy Flower with changing Kohli’s more aggressive powerplay approach.