IPL 2025: Why is Liam Livingstone not playing in PBKS vs RCB Match 37?

Liam-Livingstone. (Photo source: X)

Liam Livingstone will not be playing the reverse fixture between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Sunday, April 20.

These two teams faced each other on Friday at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in a rain-curtailed fixture, which was reduced to 14 overs per side. Punjab emerged victorious as they chased down a 96-run target with five wickets and 11 balls to spare. PBKS have five wins and two defeats from seven games. Meanwhile, RCB have won four games and lost three out of the seven that they have played so far.

Toss Update

RCB skipper Rajat Patidar called correctly at the toss and opted to field first. He said that batting second will give his team a better idea about the match situation and the surface. Meanwhile, PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer admitted that he would have also bowled first had he won the toss. He mentioned the importance of batters giving themselves time in the middle to see how the ball is moving.

Romario Shepherd comes in for Liam Livingstone; PBKS go unchanged

Caribbean all-rounder Romario Shepherd is set to make his RCB debut as he replaces the out-of-form Liam Livingstone. The England cricketer had only scored 87 runs from six innings in IPL 2025 before this encounter, averaging 17.40 and striking at 127.95. Shepherd will provide more seam-bowling depth to the side, and he can hit a long ball at the back end of an innings. Meanwhile, PBKS refrained from making any changes to their side.

PBKS vs RCB, Match 37 – What did the captains say?

Rajat Patidar (RCB)

We’re going to bowl first. Wicket looks decent, won’t change much. Batting second will give more clarity about the game and the wicket. We’re not looking at venues, just trying to play good cricket. Shepherd comes in for Livi [Livingstone].

Shreyas Iyer (PBKS)

We also wanted to bowl. At the end of the day you always have to adapt according to the situation. Important to give ourselves some time, see how the ball is moving. It’s the first afternoon game for us. Hopefully we get a good total on the board. The support we got, especially in the last game in this stadium, was outstanding. Same team.

PBKS vs RCB, Match 37 – Playing XIs

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (C), Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Yash Dayal.

Impact Substitutes: Devdutt Padikkal, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh.

Punjab Kings

Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer (C), Josh Inglis (WK), Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.

habiba sultana

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