IND vs ENG: England's IPL, Franchise Cricket Experience Promises Tough Challenge For India

England may have lost the Test series badly, unable to put up any resistance, but the T20 International side that will take the field here at the Narendra Modi Stadium from Friday in the five-match se

Only Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, and Reece Topley among the squad of 16 have no IPL experience but Malan too has a contract this year. The left-handed batsman is the world's top T20I batsman and it was no surprise that Punjab Kings splurged Rs 1.5 crore for him.

England players being in huge demand was also exemplified well with batting all-rounder Liam Livingstone being picked at the auction this year. The 27-year-old, who has played just two T20 Internationals back in 2017, was bought by Rajasthan Royals for this season following a brief stint in 2019.

He had a great Big Bash League where he scored 426 runs and hit 28 sixes for Perth Scorchers. That helped him return to the England side after well over three years as well make an IPL comeback after two years.

He had played just four games in 2019 but he exemplifies England players' growing interest in the T20 format.

"I am a different player and a different person from back then (2017). The experience that you get by playing franchise cricket around the world is pretty valuable when you come back to playing international cricket," said Livingstone while speaking to the media on Wednesday.

"For the first time in my career, I feel I belong to this environment. I was pretty immature back then. I am back to enjoying my cricket," the opening batsman added.