Punjab Kings bought England all-rounder Liam Livingstone for Rs 11.5 crore, but Australia's World-Cup winning skipper Aaron Finch went unsold in the players auction for this year's Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday.
England white-ball skipper Eoin Morgan was not signed up but teammate Jofra Archer was bought by Mumbai Indians for Rs 8 crore even though the fast bowler, recovering after an elbow surgery, is unlikely to play in this year's tournament.
England spin-bowling power-hitter Livingstone triggered a five-way bidding war which Punjab clinched. Livingstone smashed a 43-ball 103 in a Twenty20 match against Pakistan last year and the 28-year-old, who can mix off-breaks and leg-breaks, was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the men's Hundred competition in 2021.
Mumbai Indians also bought Singapore international Tim David for Rs 8 crore.
Finch led Australia to their maiden Twenty20 World Cup title last year but did not interest any of the league's 10 franchises on the second and final day of auction in Bengaluru.