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RCB signed England all-rounder Liam Livingstone for Rs 8.75 crore in the mega auction, but he could only manage to score 112 runs and take 2 wickets in 10 matches of IPL 2025.
Liam Livingstone scored 112 runs for RCB in IPL 2025. (Picture Credit: Sportzpics)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru ended the 17-year-long wait for their maiden IPL title on Tuesday (June 3). In the final of IPL 2025, played at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the Bengaluru-based franchise defeated Punjab Kings by six runs to become IPL champions for the first time in history.
Multiple players stepped up for RCB during the course of the tournament and played a big role in their title triumph, but there are some players who, despite getting multiple chances throughout the season, failed to justify their selection, and there are high chances that the team management will release them ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, which could take place later this year or early next year.
Here’s a look at five IPL 2025 stars RCB could release ahead of the IPL 2026 auction:
Liam Livingstone: RCB signed England’s batting all-rounder Liam Livingstone for Rs 8.75 crore in the mega auction last year, but in 10 matches with the help of one half-century, 31-year-old Livingstone could only manage to score a total of 112 runs. He rolled his arm in five matches but was only able to take two wickets. He was dropped from the side as well due to his poor form with the bat during the middle phase of the league stage.
Rasikh Dar: 25-year-old Jammu & Kashmir pacer Rasikh Dar, who has played for MI, KKR and DC in the past, joined RCB for Rs 6 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction. He made his RCB debut in the 2025 opener played on March 22 in Kolkata against his former team but conceded 35 runs in three overs and picked up one wicket. Rasikh remained wicketless in the RCB-GT match played on April 2, and then he didn’t get a chance to play any other match for the Rajat Patidar-led side.
Nuwan Thushara: Sri Lankan fast bowler Nuwan Thushara, who has a slinging bowling action like Lasith Malinga, was signed for Rs 1.50 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction, and he played one match for RCB in IPL 2025 (against LSG on May 27), in which he picked up one wicket for 26 runs in four overs. He was RCB’s fourth-choice overseas pacer after Josh Hazlewood, Romario Shepherd and Lungi Ngidi, and there is a high possibility that the franchise could release him.
Mayank Agarwal: Mayank Agarwal joined RCB as an injury replacement for Devdutt Padikkal and played the last four matches of IPL 2025 but was only able to score 95 runs with a strike rate of 148.43. Since Padikkal is expected to be fit in time for IPL 2026 and due to his good performances throughout the season, RCB will be more inclined towards retaining him; Mayank could be released.
Lungi Ngidi: South African fast bowler Lungi Ngidi accounted for the dismissal of four batters in two matches of IPL 2025 for RCB. The 29-year-old fast bowler conceded runs at an economy of 10.12 and was not available for the playoffs due to national duties. Ngidi is a quality pacer, but his track record with injury is poor, and RCB could release him to enter the mini auction with more overseas slots.
RCB’s IPL 2025 squad: Rajat Patidar (C), Jitesh Sharma (WK), Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Liam Livingstone, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Dar Salam, Tim David, Nuwan Thushara, Mohit Rathee, Swapnil Singh, Swastik Chikara, Abhinandan Singh, Manoj Bhandage, Lungi Ngidi, Jacob Bethell
Injury replacement: Mayank Agarwal
Temporary replacements: Tim Seifert, Blessing Muzarabani
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that’s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that’s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext
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