Liam Livingstone delivered a remarkable performance, scoring 124 not out off 85 balls against West Indies in the second ODI, helping England successfully chase down a target of 329. With Jos Buttler sidelined for the series, Livingstone was appointed as the captain and made a significant impact.
Livingstone was recently released by Punjab Kings on retention deadline day, with the team opting to retain only Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh. Punjab Kings have four Right to Match cards for the auction, but it seems unlikely they will utilize them as they focus on rebuilding their squad.
Having played three seasons for Punjab Kings, Livingstone’s best performance came in 2022 when he scored 437 runs. Although he had a disappointing 2024 season with only 111 runs, he has been in fantastic form for England lately. In 2024, he boasts an ODI average of 70 with a strike rate of 139.3, and in T20Is, he has an average of 37 with a strike rate of 151.6, significantly increasing his value ahead of the IPL 2025 auction.
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Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru has retained Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal and have released players like Glenn Maxwell. They have three Right to Match cards, but it seems unlikely they will use one on Glenn Maxwell.
With RCB parting ways with Maxwell, who struggled during his time with the team, Liam Livingstone could be an excellent fit. He can play in the middle order or serve as a finisher while also offering valuable overs with both leg spin and off spin.
However, there are other players like him that Royal Challengers Bengaluru may also consider targeting.
Tim David
Tim David has been released by the Mumbai Indians, who retained five capped players and therefore cannot use any Right to Match cards. It appears that Tim and Mumbai have officially parted ways. Known for his hard-hitting abilities and match-finishing skills, David has played three seasons in the IPL, mostly batting lower down the order. In his last two seasons, he scored over 200 runs, maintaining an impressive strike rate of around 158.
RCB could consider Tim David, as they lacked a player in the finisher role last season. David was also part of RCB in 2021, where he played only one match, but this could be the right time for both parties to reunite.
Glenn Phillips
Glenn Phillips has been released by Sunrisers Hyderabad on the retention deadline, as they retained five capped players and therefore cannot use a Right to Match card on him. Phillips played for SRH over two seasons, featuring in five matches in 2023, but he did not play at all in 2024, as the team already had four powerhouse overseas players ahead of him in the lineup.
Phillips began his career as a wicketkeeper-batsman but has since evolved into one of the most promising all-rounders in the world. He is capable of batting in the middle order and finishing games, while also possessing a talent for taking crucial wickets with his bowling. Moreover, his exceptional fielding skills establish him as one of the top fielders in the world. If RCB decides to bid for him, he could become a valuable asset, potentially delivering the impact they were hoping to find in Glenn Maxwell.
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