We have entered the last league stage game in the IPL 2025, where Royal Challengers Bengaluru are playing against Lucknow Super Giants. In this fixture, RCB are playing without their foreign cricketers Tim David and Lungi Ngidi. Here are the reasons for their absence in the game. 

Once again, Jitesh Sharma has been chosen to lead the RCB team, while the regular skipper Rajat Patidar is in the list of Impact Sub. Australian cricketer Tim David and South African pacer Lungi Ngidi are not playing this match, and both these absences aren't shocking. English all-rounder Liam Livingstone replaced David, and Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Thushara is playing as a replacement for Ngidi. 

Why is Tim David not playing?

In their previous game against SunRisers Hyderabad, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru suffered a 42-run defeat, David suffered a hamstring injury. During the final over of the SRH innings, David was injured while saving a boundary. Although David later came to bat at no.8, he was dismissed for one run in five balls.

The franchise is now waiting for his fitness status, especially whether he can be available for the Playoffs or not. If he fails to improve his fitness, we may see another special temporary replacement in the team.  

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Why is Lungi Ngidi not playing?

On the other hand, Lungi Ngidi has left the franchise to join his national team. In the absence of Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood, Ngidi served for RCB in two matches, where the right-arm fast bowler picked up three and one wickets, respectively. Zimbabwean pacer Blessing Muzarabani is the replacement for Ngidi in the franchise for the remainder of the season.     

The last league stage game of the IPL 2025 is a must-win match for RCB to secure a top-two finish in the points table, who are in the third position before the match with 17 points. RCB can even finish on top of the points table.