Here is why Liam Livingstone Isn’t Playing Today’s IPL 2025 Match 42 Against RR

The 42nd match of IPL 2025 features the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) facing off against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Winning an important toss, Rajasthan Royals’ captain Riyan Parag has elected to bowl first. He mentioned that the track looks a bit sticky and should get better later on. Parag said that they need to give their 100 percent, and the results will take care of themselves. However, the big news ahead of the match is the absence of Liam Livingstone from the RCB playing XI.

Rajasthan Royals Opt to Bowl First in Bengaluru

Riyan Parag, leading the Rajasthan Royals, said that the track looks sticky and that it should get better later on. He emphasised giving 100 percent and that the results will follow.Sanju Samson is still recovering from his injury and won’t be part of RR’s playing XI. “We will bowl first. The wicket looks a bit sticky and should get better later on. It’s back to our ethics now, if we can give our 100 percent, the results will take care of themselves. Sanju (Samson) bhai is recovering and hopefully he will be back soon. One change for us. Theekshana is out and Farooqi is in.” Parag said.

RR are playing with key bowlers like Jofra Archer, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma and Wanindu Hasaranga.

Patidar wanted to bowl first too

Rajat Patidar, captaining the RCB side, said that he would have liked to bowl first, too. He mentioned that the surface has been tricky and unpredictable this season. He said that they will try to adapt as quickly as possible. “ We would have loved to bowl first as well, the surface has been tricky and unpredictable this season and we will try to adapt as quickly as we can. We have to be good at shot selection. We are going with the same team.” Patidar said.

Why Liam Livingstone is not playing today

England all-rounder and destructive batter Liam Livingstone is missing from the RCB playing XI. He was not featured in the last match either. Romario Shepherd is playing in his position. Livingstone has not had a greats season so far. He scored only 87 runs in the season before being dropped. He also took 2 wickets.

Shepherd is playing in his position. He is known for his death bowling. The fast bowler is known for his variations and batting down the order. In the match against the Punjab Kings, he picked up the prized scalp of captain Shreyas Iyer.

Playing XIs

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Playing XI:

Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal

Rajasthan Royals XI:

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubham Dubey, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag(c), Dhruv Jurel(w), Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma

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