The IPL 2025 auction sparked a lot of discussions as franchises reshaped their squads post the mega auction. Among the big moves, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made headlines by acquiring several impactful players, choosing to move away from India marquee players and building a strong squad around their core retentions.
While this drew criticism from several quarters, including analyst Aakash Chopra, RCB were able to grab a few good players with their smart approach in the auction. They avoided the likes of KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer at exorbitant prices despite having one of the biggest purses heading into the auction.
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Their first buy at the auction was England all-rounder Liam Livingstone, bought for ₹8.75 crore after a bidding war with Chennai Super Kings.
The England star wasted no time in sharing his excitement about joining RCB. Speaking about the move, the 31-year-old seemed to take a subtle dig at his former team, Punjab Kings.
“Bangalore is going to be very good for my game. The stadium is a little smaller than some others in India, and certainly better than what Punjab was for me,” said Livingstone to Reuters. “Hopefully, my game should suit this place well.”
“The fan base is very passionate. It’s probably one of the biggest franchises in IPL… It’s a bit of a fresh start for me,” he added.
The remark comes after Livingstone’s three-season stint with Punjab, where he scored 827 runs but didn’t reach the consistency expected of him. He suggested that the conditions in Bengaluru, especially the Chinnaswamy Stadium’s reputation for high-scoring games and shorter boundaries, align better with his playing style.
Livingstone expressed excitement about joining a passionate fan base and playing alongside the likes of Virat Kohli and Phil Salt, another high-profile England pick for RCB this season. “Playing with Virat is going to be really cool. There are a few people in the team I know well, so I’m excited to get out there as a group,” he added.
While praising RCB’s squad-building in the auction, Livingstone stopped short of making bold predictions. Instead, he emphasized the need to work hard to deliver the franchise its long-awaited IPL title.
With his recent form in the Abu Dhabi T10, where he smashed a 15-ball fifty, Livingstone could play a crucial role in RCB’s campaign. His big hitting aside, Livingstone’s bowling could also come handy at RCB, who will look to fill the Glenn Maxwell void with the Englishman.
