Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have dropped England all-rounder Liam Livingstone for their upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) clash against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur, according to a report by Cricket.com.
The news comes after a lacklustre performance from Livingstone in the first seven matches of the season, where he managed to score just 87 runs at an average of 17.4 and a strike rate of 127.90. As per Cricket.com, Livingstone was bought by RCB for INR 8.75 crore at the mega auction, but failed to make an impact, crossing the 20-run mark only once in six attempts. His scores of 4, 4, and 0 in RCB’s previous three games likely contributed to his axing.
In his place, RCB have brought in West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd, who was bought for INR 1.5 crore at the mega auction. As reported by Cricket.com, Shepherd is set to make his debut for RCB against Punjab Kings.
Ahead of the match, RCB won the toss and opted to chase. Punjab Kings, on the other hand, announced that they would be fielding an unchanged XI, meaning Glenn Maxwell continues to warm the bench. Maxwell, another high-profile signing for RCB, has struggled to make an impact this season.
The playing XI for both teams have been confirmed, with Punjab Kings set to field: Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer(c), Josh Inglis(w), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, and Yuzvendra Chahal. RCB, on the other hand, will field: Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, and Yash Dayal.
As per Cricket.com, RCB are looking to turn their season around, and the introduction of Shepherd is seen as a potential boost to their lineup. The team will be looking to make an impact against Punjab Kings, who have been inconsistent this season.
The decision to drop Livingstone and bring in Shepherd has raised eyebrows, with many fans and pundits questioning the move. However, as Cricket.com reports, RCB’s coaching staff are keen to give Shepherd a chance to prove himself. The team is looking to strengthen their squad and make a push for the playoffs.
In related news, Maxwell’s continued absence from the RCB lineup has sparked speculation about his future with the team. As reported by Cricket.com, Maxwell has been one of the most high-profile signings for RCB in recent years, but has struggled to justify his price tag. The Australian all-rounder will be looking to make an impact when he eventually gets a chance to play.
The match between RCB and Punjab Kings promises to be an exciting one, with both teams looking to turn their season around. As per Cricket.com, fans will be keeping a close eye on the performance of both teams and the impact of the changes made by RCB.
The source material from Cricket.com also revealed that RCB have been working hard to strengthen their squad and make a push for the playoffs. The introduction of Shepherd and the dropping of Livingstone are part of this effort.
Overall, the changes made by RCB have raised eyebrows, but as reported by Cricket.com, the team is looking to make an impact and turn their season around. The match against Punjab Kings promises to be an exciting one, with both teams looking to make a statement.
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