IPL 2021: Here's how Riyan Parag helped Liam Livingstone hit a purple patch

England batsman Liam Livingstone has hit a purple patch. After scoring a magnificent hundred in the T20I series against Pakistan, he lit up the Hundred tournament with an outstanding display of batsmanship. Livingstone scored 22 boundaries and 27 sixes while playing for Birmingham Phoenix, and scored 348 runs in 9 games. Livingstone recently revealed that he played the entire summer with the bat he borrowed from Riyan Parag.

“He wanted one of my cricket bags and I wanted one of his bats. So, we did a little trade and I’ve been using it in white-ball cricket all summer,” the 28-year-old said. “So maybe I owe Riyan for all the sixes that I’ve been hitting over the last couple of months.”

The right-hander pulled out of the first leg of IPL due to physical and mental fatigue but will be available for the remainder of the season in UAE. With no Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer, Rajasthan will be hoping that Livingstone can carry on his form in the IPL as well.

“I feel there’s more to life than just cricket, and sometimes we sort of forget that we are actual human beings and sometimes we have to look after ourselves,” he said.
“I guess the decision I made at the time wasn’t an easy one, I wanted to stay with the Royals and try to help us win some games. But I think sometimes your mental and physical health is most important.”

Livingstone has been named in England squad for the T20 World Cup and playing in the IPL will get him used to the conditions in UAE before the multinational event begins on October 17.