RCB will release Liam Livingstone ahead of IPL 2026 Auction
It sounds really close to being true that RCB will not have to execute their restructuring as early as anticipated, since there were ongoing talks about how the process might actually be completed anytime soon. According to the latest sources, RCB will release Liam Livingstone from the team. The defending champions are likely to release wicketkeeper Liam Livingstone of England before the auction deadline of November 15.
The sudden discussions within the cricketing circles have begun, as Livingstone was among the more highly placed picks in the franchise last year. RCB may have alternative thoughts regarding the overseas combination in the next set of auctions, with Match Insights regarding RCB showing some inconsistencies in performances and strategies within the teams living there.
Livingstone’s Journey With RCB
At the 2025 auction, RBC purchased Livingstone for 8.75 crores in the hope that he would give explosive finishes and useful bowling options. However, his season turned out to be an uneven one.
With just a single half-century to his name, he garnered a total of 112 runs at a strike rate of 133.33 in some eight innings. This, of course, is not sufficient to satisfy RCB. He took two wickets in a nine-over spell at an economy rate of 8.44, giving RCB a brief flavor of valuing his inclusion.
The timing complicating the situation is Livingstone’s recent hit-or-miss shows outside the IPL. It was a high-caliber overall effort by Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred: 241 runs at a strike rate of 155.48, the highest for the franchise in the tournament, and also the second-most wickets taken for the team with two. Then followed the T20 Blast: with a Lancashire side, 260 runs at well over a strike rate of 100 and six wickets to show for it. These showings indicate Livingstone is an impactful player, but maybe not the right fit for where RCB seems to be going.
Why RCB Would Let Him Go Now
RCB will release Liam Livingstone, and one of the biggest reasons for this potential move is regarding squad balance. RCB have two strong finishers in the explosive Australian Tim David and West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd. David had the best strike rate of 185.14 last season, with Shepherd blasting 70 runs from just 24 balls (strike rate 291.66) as one of the talking points of IPL 2025.
Livingstone is less defined in his position with the form of these two. Releasing him affords RCB greater flexibility to aid the auction purse and zoom in on players who best fit their newly evolving strategy. This shifting outlook seems to be taken by RCB, according to insiders of Starexch‘s Match Insights, who underline the transition of the RCB management toward clarity of roles and the reputation in favor of specialists who can be consistent in delivering results under pressure, starting with their next major decision on retaining or releasing Dayal Yash.
The Yash Dayal Dilemma
Yash Dayal is a rising star with bright prospects in the domestic cricket circuit for RCB. In the IPL 2025 season, Dayal picked up 13 wickets over 15 games, all at an economy rate of 9.59. These figures may not grab the attention of many, but what is undeniable is that this has been one avenue through which RCB has won the trophy by these performances in telling moments: He put in 3 overs in the finals, conceding 18 runs for a wicket.
However, the more worrying point is that he has been away from the field for quite some time and did not even find a place in the UPT20 League, which was conducted about two weeks back. There are ongoing concerns surrounding Dayal regarding his fitness and availability for IPL 2026.
This puts RCB in a sticky spot. Retaining Dayal would mean backing a player of proven merit, but it brings a shade of uncertainty over his complete readiness. Letting him go could be a risk, ensuring a player with proven mettle to deliver under pressure.
With the deadline closing in, the RCB think tank must make one of the toughest decisions of its retention cycle.
What This Means for RCB’s Auction Strategy
If Livingstone gets released, it adds another purse for RCB to the auction, better positioning them to target some emerging all-rounders, domestic power-hitters, or impact bowlers. Middle order reinforcement is likely to be their main priority among all of this, and they will rely heavily on the complete bowling unit, particularly if Dayal is not retained.
According to ongoing cricket updates on Starexchange, the franchise is also exploring players it has not played. As RCB will release Liam Livingstone, the fans expect RCB to be aggressive but calculated during the auction, focusing on versatility and reliable performers.
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Starexchange will continue to stay up with each development very closely to ensure that readers do not miss any major decisions as teams set their final lists before November 15.
FAQs
1. Why does RCB consider releasing Liam Livingstone?
A: Releasing Livingstone opens up auction money and potentially a better balance in their squad, considering that they already have good finishers in David and Shepherd.
2. Is Liam Livingstone having a nice run of form lately?
A: Yes, his forms in The Hundred and in the T20 Blast have all been good. But for RCB, he may not fit into the overall team structure at present.
3. What is the concern about Yash Dayal?
A: He performed excellently in IPL but has not played any competitive game since the final. So there are questions about his readiness.
4 . Where can I get more updates on sports?
A: Starexchange brings you all latest cricket news, coupled with detailed insights into match performance of teams, players, and tournaments.
