Royal Challengers Bengaluru, fresh from finally lifting the IPL trophy, look set to release Liam Livingstone ahead of Wednesday’s retention deadline. The call isn’t a huge shock, yet it still feels harsh on a player bought for INR 8.75 crore only eleven months ago.
Livingstone’s 2025 numbers tell part of the story: 112 runs in eight knocks, strike-rate 133, a single fifty. He bowled the odd over too – two wickets at 8.44 – but the franchise never quite worked out how best to use him. Since then he has captained Birmingham Phoenix in the Hundred, topping their run charts and nipping out seven wickets, and he shone for Lancashire in the Blast. All useful, just not obviously useful enough for RCB’s current jigsaw.
The bigger picture is squad balance and, bluntly, cash. Tim David is locked in as a finisher after smashing 187 runs at 185 last season. Romario Shepherd managed an eye-popping 70 from 24 balls – strike-rate 292 – and offers a few overs as well. With those two around, the coaching group appear willing to bank Livingstone’s salary and head into the December auction with a healthier purse.
Another tricky decision hovers over left-arm quick Yash Dayal. He took 13 wickets in 15 matches at 9.59, held his nerve in the closing overs more than once and returned 3-0-18-1 in the final. The worry? He has not played a competitive game since that night and skipped the recent UP T20 League. Fitness is fine, say people close to the player, but match-readiness remains an unknown.
The deadline for confirmed releases is 15 November. After that, RCB’s back-room staff can only hope the choices made this week still look smart when the gavel comes down at the auction – and, more importantly, when the title defence begins next April.
