Bengaluru, November 24 – Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Andy Flower expressed delight over the acquisition of England all-rounder Liam Livingstone during the ongoing IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah. Livingstone was secured by RCB for Rs 8.75 crore, adding significant firepower to their roster.
Speaking in a statement released by the franchise, Flower praised Livingstone’s power and versatility.
“We are very happy to get Liam Livingstone. He is a very, very dangerous player obviously huge power but very versatile as well, given that he bowls legspin and offspin. So having that spin addition to our attack is really nice to secure early in the auction,” Flower said.
The coach also highlighted Livingstone’s growth as a player, particularly as a batter capable of adapting to different match situations.
“And the other thing I had say about Livingstone, and I’ve worked with him quite a lot before, certainly at the England Cricket Academy, what I see in him is a maturing player, and some of his international efforts recently shows that he’s a maturing batsman who now can change gear up and down. And his ups very high, obviously, but he can also build innings and absorb pressure when he needs to. So that’s been really nice to see recently. We’re really happy to get him,” he concluded.
Livingstone’s IPL Journey
Liam Livingstone, a batting all-rounder, has previously played for Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) since making his IPL debut in 2019. Over 39 matches, he has scored 939 runs at an impressive strike rate of 162.46, including six fifties. He has also taken 11 wickets with his part-time legspin and offspin.
Livingstone’s best IPL performance came during his stint with PBKS in 2022, where he scored 437 runs in 14 matches at a staggering strike rate of 182.08, including four half-centuries. He also contributed with the ball, claiming six wickets.
Mega Auction in Jeddah
The IPL 2025 mega auction is shaping up to be one of the most exciting events of the cricketing calendar. Spanning November 24-25, the auction features 574 players, shortlisted from an initial pool of 1,574 names. This includes 208 overseas players, 12 uncapped overseas talents, and 318 uncapped Indian players. With big names and emerging stars in the mix, fans can expect record-breaking bids and intriguing team-building strategies.
