Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag has come down heavily on overseas stars Glenn Maxwell and Liam Livingstone for their underwhelming performances in IPL 2025. Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag lashed out at the overseas players Glenn Maxwell and Liam Livingstone for their poor show in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. 

In the 18th edition of the tournament, Maxwell has been representing Punjab Kings (PBKS). While, Livingstone has been playing for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). During the 37th match of the IPL 2025 between PBKS and RCB, both overseas players were missing from their respective franchises' playing eleven.

Also Read:-IPL 2025: Why is Dewald Brevis not playing in CSK vs MI IPL 2025 match 38?

They Arrive, Have Their Fun, And Leave: Virender Sehwag

While speaking on Cricbuzz, Virender Sehwag slammed the two overseas players and said that they come to India for a holiday and not to play cricket. He made a big statement, saying that players like Maxwell and Livingstone come to India and leave after having fun. He added that there no visible desire to fight from the two players.

“I feel like Maxwell and Livingstone’s hunger is gone. Yeh yaha holiday manane aate hai (they just come here for a holiday). They arrive, have their fun, and leave. There's no visible desire to fight for the team,” Sehwag said while speaking on Cricbuzz.

“I’ve spent time with a lot of former players, but only 1 or 2 really gave me the feeling that, ‘Yes, I genuinely want to do something for the team',” he added.

During the match between RCB and PBKS, the Bengaluru based franchise clinched a seven-wicket triumph over PBKS on Sunday, April 20th. Following the win, RCB hold this place on IPL 2025 standings with 10 points and have a net run rate of +0.472. Meanwhile, Punjab Kings stand in the fourth position with 10 points and have a net run rate of +0.177.

In an important game against Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru decided to drop England all-rounder Liam Livingstone. RCB captain Rajat Patidar confirmed this at the toss. Many fans were surprised, but there were some clear reasons behind this move.

Livingstone was bought for ₹8.75 crore in the IPL 2025 auction. He is known for hitting big sixes and bowling useful spin. But in this season, he has not played well. In 6 innings, he scored only 87 runs, with an average of 17.40 and a strike rate of 127.94. His best score was 54. He also hit only 4 fours and 7 sixes, much less than expected.

Livingstone didn’t help much with the ball either. RCB already has two main spinners in Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma, so his bowling wasn’t needed much. Since he didn’t perform well with the bat and wasn’t used much with the ball, the team decided to make a change. RCB needed more from him in the middle overs, but he often got out while trying to hit big shots. This made things harder for the rest of the batting line-up.

ALSO SEE: 'Buttler told not to....'—Rahul Tewatia reveals what Jos Buttler told when he was on verge of century

Poor Form with Bat and Ball, Romario Shepherd Comes In

In his place, RCB brought in West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd. He was bought for ₹1.5 crore. Shepherd is a fast bowler and also hits big shots in the lower order. Since the match is being played in the afternoon in Mullanpur, where dew won’t be a big problem, RCB decided to go with pace instead of spin. At the toss, Patidar said, “We're going to bowl first. Wicket looks decent, won't change much. Shepherd comes in for Livi.”

Livingstone has played well in past IPL seasons. In 2022, he scored 437 runs at a strike rate of 182. But this year, his form has dropped. In T20 cricket, form is very important, and right now, Livingstone is struggling. This decision shows that RCB is ready to take bold steps. They want players who are in form and can help them win games. Livingstone may return later in the season, but for now, RCB is hoping that Romario Shepherd can give them the edge.

On Monday night (April 7), Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai will host the 20th match of the IPL 2025, Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (MI vs RCB). Here, we are going through the Dream11 top captains and vice-captains for the MI vs RCB match. 

IPL 2025, Match 20: MI vs RCB Probable XIs

Mumbai Indians Predicted Playing 11: Rohit Sharma/Vignesh Puthur (Impact Players), Ryan Rickelton, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Bevon Jacobs, Hardik Pandya (Captain), Naman Dhir/Raj Bawa, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Ashwani Kumar/Jasprit Bumrah

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Predicted Playing 11: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar (Captain), Devdutt Padikkal/Suyash Sharma (Impact Player Sub), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal 

See Also: IPL 2025: MI vs RCB Match 20- Who will be Impact Players for today's match?

IPL 2025, Match 20: MI vs RCB Dream11 Top Captains And Vice-captains

Top 3 Captain choices

Virat Kohli: Former RCB captain Virat Kohli, the leading run-scorer in IPL history, started the IPL season strongly. Although he scored only seven runs in the last game, Kohli scored 59 not out and 31 runs in the first two matches of the season. 

Hardik Pandya: MI captain Hardik Pandya has taken eight wickets in this IPL season, including recording the first-ever fifer by an IPL captain in their last game. Although MI couldn't succeed in the chase in their last game, Pandya fought hard with his 28 not out in 16 balls. 

Josh Hazlewood: Australian right-arm pacer Josh Hazlewood has picked up six wickets in three games of the IPL 2025. During the match against the hosts CSK, Hazlewood controlled the hosts' innings with his incredible bowling figures of 4-0-21-3. 

Top 3 Vice-captain choices

Krunal Pandya: All-rounder Krunal Pandya is an important name for the RCB this season. While he failed to perform impressively in the last two matches, he started the season with a Player of the Match award for picking up three wickets (3/29) against the defending champions KKR. 

Phil Salt: English cricketer Phil Salt has scored 56, 32, and 14 runs in the first three matches of the season, as the right-handed opening batter is enjoying providing powerful starts with the bat.

Liam Livingstone: England all-rounder Liam Livingstone has impressed in the early days of the IPL 2025. After scoring a quickfire 15 not out to end the season opener match against KKR quickly, Livingstone scored 10 runs and picked up two wickets (2/28) in the next game against CSK. Meanwhile, in their last match, Livingstone scored a valuable half-century (54) when his team was struggling. 

Its been really a poor show by India in 3rd T20 which held in Rajkot. India Played brilliantly in their first 2 T20s, but the third one was quite mixed one. India won the toss and elected to bowl first. India bowled brilliantly till their 16 over then Livingston took the charge and gave a comfortable score of 179. In reply Indian openers crumbled at the start though good batting by Hardik Pandaya still India couldn't chase the target and lost by 26 runs. 

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Top Reasons For India's Loss

India lost the match due to their slow approch in the second innings of the game where they lacked in chase despite being in the game till 15th over. 

England Good Batting At The End

India displayed a good bowling show where they removed Philp Salt in the second over itself. But Duckett went on going, though England lost wickets in regular intervals. Duckett went on to score a brilliant fifty. But after that every player crumbled. It was at the end where Liam Livingston came for rescue scoring 43 of 24 balls. England took charge after 16th over, where they put on to make a good score of 171.

Poor Bowling Display By India

Mohammad Shami was back after a long interval of injury break. Indian bowlers displayed a good show till 15th over but after that they strugged to find their line and length, they started to leak runs at the end which led England to put up a good score of 171.

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India Poor Performance With Bat

 India went on to chase the target of 171 but it seemed they have lack in approch. Where India lost Sanju early who tried to apply pull shot but didn't get connected. The pace of the ball deceived him. Every batsman tried to imply the shot on the slowy pitch and got out cheaply. Hardik tried his best to get the command but couldn't hold on. Captain Surya poor form, Tilak getting out on spin which get back in to the stumps. Till 15th over India had the hope of chase but lack of intent at the later stages costed the match for India. 

Poor Intent

It was clearly visible that India were in lack of intent throught the game. At first innings they were unable to bowled out England despite having a good start. In the second innings same thing happened where started the innings poorly and later on they builded up but the intent was too conjusty, As everyone was trying to hit hard rather than understanding the nature of pitch. 

Misunderstanding The Aggressive Approach

Its ok to show the aggressive approach in a t20 game it is meant for it. But sometime you have to understand the nature of the game and how the game progress. At first innings India took out early  six wickets but after that they didn't went for the kill allowed England to score a decent total. In the second innings batsman were trying to hit the ball hard rather than understanding what the pitch is offering. England bowlers were consistent with their hard length deleviries making hard for the Indian batting. Which was later pointed out by the captain Surya Kumar Yadav. 

Visitors England made a comeback in the T20I series against the hosts India after clinching a handsome 26-run win in the Rajkot T20I on Tuesday (January 28). 

Leading the T20I series by 2-0, the Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss once again and chose to field in the third of the five-match T20I series at Rajkot. It was the much-awaited comeback match for the Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami, who missed out on international cricket for more than 14 months. While England scored 171/9 in 20 overs, India replied with 145/9 in 20 overs. 

England innings: Ben Duckett powered before Varun Chakravarthy's magic

Although the opener Phil Salt once again lost his wicket early at five runs, his opening partner Ben Duckett set up a strong start with the in-form skipper Jos Buttler. Duckett was dominating the Indian bowlers from the powerplay and set up England’s first 50-run partnership in this T20I series as he had a 76-run partnership for the second wicket with Buttler. 

Once England were batting at 83/1, but the Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav handled the spinners really well as the English batting line-up once again faced deep trouble. From 83/1, England were suddenly down to 127/8. 

While the skipper Buttler scored 24 off 22 balls, the opener Duckett scored 51 off 28 balls with seven fours and two sixes. 

Leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy claimed a fifer as he had bowling figures of 4-0-24-5. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya picked up two wickets (2/33), while Axar Patel (1/19) and Ravi Bishnoi (1/46) got one wicket each. 

See Also: Jasprit Bumrah Honored as ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year 2024

Liam Livingstone added vital runs

While the other English middle and lower-order batters struggled, Liam Livingstone added some vital runs of 43 off 24 balls with the help of one four and five sixes. Also, Adil Rashid (10*) and Mark Wood’s (10*) additions proved crucial for the visitors.

Indian innings: No strong batting performance; England bowlers were disciplined powered by Adil Rashid

In reply, England were taking wickets at regular intervals, while the English skipper Jos Buttler handled the bowlers really well. Opener Abhishek Sharma got a strong start but was caught out for 24 off 14 balls as Jofra Archer took a great catch. Captain Suryakumar Yadav (14) is far away from his form, while Tilak Varma was finally dismissed by brilliant Adil Rashid for 18 runs.

Apart from Abhishek, only Hardik Pandya scored 20+ runs in that innings, but he didn’t get any support who could help him by at least rotating the strike. Pandya scored 40 off 35 balls with one four and two sixes but it was far from enough.

Adil Rashid was exceptional once again with the bowling figures of 4-0-15-1, while Jamie Overton took three wickets (3/24). Also, Brydon Carse (2/28) and Jofra Archer (2/33) picked up two wickets and Mark Wood got a wicket (1/29).

With the 26-run win, England are trailing the five-match T20I series by 2-1 with two to go. 

While the Indian bowlers completely dominated in the Kolkata T20I over the English batters, it is a new tense sign for the IPL team Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) fans as three of their English batters completely failed in the first innings of the match.

Although the English captain Jos Buttler provided a good start, the other English batters had no answer for the Indian bowlers. English cricketers Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, and Jacob Bethell are RCBians, and all of them had hard luck on Wednesday night.

Phil Salt scored a duck

Opener Salt couldn’t open the scoreline as Arshdeep Singh delivered a short ball and an extra bounce resulted in Salt’s dismissal after the wicketkeeper Sanju Samson comfortably took the catch. It was just the third ball of the match while England were 0/1. 

Also Watch: Varun Chakravarthy's double put India in strong position

Liam Livingstone also scored a duck; Jacob Bethell struggled

Liam Livingstone scored a two-ball duck as the in-form spinner Varun Chakravarthy bowled him. The new RCBian Jacob Bethell failed to help the visitors from the tough situation and his clueless batting disturbed the English skipper’s fighting flow. It was Hardik Pandya who dismissed Bethell for seven off 14 balls. 

England were all out for 132 runs in 20 overs

Indian bowlers dominated in England innings as England were all out for 132 runs in 20 overs. While the skipper Buttler scored fighting 68 off 44 balls with the help of eight fours and two sixes, Harry Brook (17) and Jofra Archer (12) were the only other English batters with double-digit scores in that innings. 

Among the Indian bowlers, Varun Chakravarthy got three wickets (3/23), while Arshdeep Singh (2/17), Axar Patel (2/22), and Hardik Pandya (2/42) bagged two wickets each.  

Later, Abhishek Sharma's dominant batting, as he scored 79 off 34 balls, guided India to reach the target in 12.5 overs after losing three wickets. 

England leveled the ODI series by creating history in the second game of the three-match ODI series against the hosts West Indies at Antigua. 

Trailing the series by 1-0, England chose to field first after winning the toss in the second game of the series. After West Indies scored 328/6 in 50 overs, England successfully reached the target in 47.3 overs after losing five wickets.

Captain Shai Hope scored a century in the first innings

Captain Shai Hope scored his 17th ODI century as his 117 off 127 balls (eight fours and four sixes) powered the Caribbean team to score a big ODI total. Keacy Carty (71) and Sherfane Rutherford (54) supported him with half-centuries, while Shimron Hetmyer (24), Roston Chase (20*), and Matthew Forde (23*) brought some useful cameos.

Captain Liam Livingstone fired a match-winning century

In reply, although England lost a couple of wickets cheaply, they always had some useful partnerships. Opener Phil Salt (59), Jacob Bethell (55), and Sam Curran (52) scored valuable half-centuries, while the captain Liam Livingstone scored his maiden ODI century as he remained not out on 124 runs off 85 balls (five fours and nine sixes) to guide the visitors to reach the target safely. 

Both captains scored centuries in the same ODI

• It was the seventh time in ODI cricket history that both captains scored centuries in the same game. 

• England also became the first team to successfully chase three 300+ ODI targets in the West Indies. Even the hosts West Indies have recorded it twice. 

Second highest successful ODI chase in West Indies

• England recorded the second-highest successful ODI chase in the West Indies. They also hold the record for the highest successful chase of 361 runs against West Indies in the 2019 Bridgetown ODI. 

Following Liam Livingstone‘s departure from the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season, Rajasthan Royals bid farewell to another English cricketer as explosive batsman Jos Buttler exits the tournament to fulfil his national commitments.

Buttler’s Farewell: Rajasthan Royals Lose a Key Player

In a poignant video shared by the Rajasthan Royals’ official social media handle, Jos Buttler is seen bidding farewell to his teammates before departing from the Royals’ camp. His departure leaves a void in the team, depriving Rajasthan of a critical player known for his explosive batting prowess.

Liam Livingstone’s Departure: English Exodus from IPL Continues

The exit of Jos Buttler marks the continuation of a trend wherein English players have been leaving the IPL midway to prepare for international duties. Liam Livingstone’s departure preceded Buttler’s exit, adding to the list of English stars relinquishing their IPL campaigns for national duty.

See Also: GT vs KKR: Toss delayed due to bad weather; Check latest updates

Liam Livingstone’s premature departure from the IPL was driven by concerns over his fitness, particularly his troublesome knee. Having suffered from a series of muscle injuries recently, Livingstone prioritized his recovery for the T20 World Cup to ensure his availability for England’s campaign.

ECB’s Call: National Duty Beckons for England Players

The decision to leave the IPL stems from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) call for World Cup-bound players to return to the national setup ahead of the crucial series against Pakistan. With the T20Is against Pakistan serving as a dress rehearsal for the upcoming T20 World Cup, key players like Buttler become imperative for England.

Following Livingstone and Buttler’s exit, the rest of England’s World Cup squad members who participated in the IPL are expected to return home. Players like Will Jacks, Reece Topley, Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, and Phil Salt will join their teammates in England, where they will regroup ahead of the series against Pakistan. The squad is scheduled to reconvene in Leeds ahead of England’s first T20I against Pakistan at Headingley on May 22.

Reunion in Leeds: England Squad Gathers for T20I Against Pakistan

The England squad’s reunion in Leeds marks the beginning of a crucial phase in their preparation for the T20 World Cup. As players regroup and focus shifts towards the series against Pakistan, anticipation builds among fans as they eagerly await the team’s performance on home soil.

In the IPL 2024 season, Sanju Samson has not only continued to impress with his batting but has also turned heads with his exceptional skills behind the stumps. His recent performance against Punjab Kings, where he ensured Liam Livingstone’s runout, highlighted a pivotal moment not just for the Rajasthan Royals but for Samson’s career as a standout wicketkeeper.

The Signature Runout Against Punjab Kings

In a critical match moment, Samson executed a stunning run-out of Liam Livingstone, who was looking dangerous at 21 off 14 balls. The throw from debutant Tanush Kotian was off target, but Samson’s agility and presence of mind turned it into a match-defining moment, keeping Punjab under 150 runs.

See Also: IPL 2024: Mitchell Marsh returns to Australia after hamstring injury, check latest report

Evolution of His Wicket-keeping

Traditionally not viewed as an exceptional wicketkeeper, Samson has dramatically shifted this perception in IPL 2024. With five dismissals to his name already, including a standout runout that could be dubbed a “Dhoni-esque” moment, he has redefined his role in the team.

Samson’s Batting Brilliance

This year, Samson has averaged an impressive 82 at a strike rate of 157, making him the fourth-highest run-scorer so far. His consistent performance marks a significant upturn compared to previous seasons, where flashes of brilliance were often overshadowed by inconsistency.

Samson’s Technique and Training

Samson’s improvement is a testament to his rigorous training regime and the technological inputs from coaching staff. Special emphasis on agility drills and reflex training has enhanced his ability to execute quick stumpings and runouts.

Impact on Rajasthan Royals’ Strategy

Samson’s form and skills have allowed the Rajasthan Royals to strategize more aggressively, knowing they have both a reliable batsman and a sharp wicketkeeper. His role as a pivotal player in crunch situations has solidified this season.

Comparison with Legendary Wicket-keepers

While comparisons with MS Dhoni might be premature, Samson’s recent exploits hint at a potential to reach similar heights. His calm demeanor and sharp reflexes echo the qualities seen in legendary figures like Dhoni.

Several key players in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 are facing the prospect of early exits from the tournament due to their international commitments. These players, integral to their IPL franchises, are likely to depart earlier than expected, leaving a void in their teams’ line-ups. Let’s know about the details of these potential departures and their impact on the ongoing IPL season.

Reece Topley (RCB)

Representing Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Reece Topley is an essential component of England’s T20 World Cup plans. Scheduled to leave in the third week of May, Topley’s absence could pose a challenge for RCB’s bowling lineup as they strive for success in the IPL.

Sikandar Raza (PBKS)

Playing for Punjab Kings (PBKS), Sikandar Raza is expected to bid adieu to the IPL by the end of April. With Zimbabwe set to tour Bangladesh for five T20Is, Raza’s departure could disrupt PBKS’ balance in the middle order.

Mustafizur Rahman (CSK)

For Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Mustafizur Rahman’s services might not be available in May due to Bangladesh’s T20I series against Zimbabwe and the USA. Rahman’s absence could affect CSK’s bowling options in the crucial stages of the tournament.

Jos Buttler (RR)

Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) Jos Buttler could receive a call back in the third week of May as England prepares to face Pakistan in four T20Is starting from May 22. Buttler’s potential departure could leave a significant void in RR’s batting lineup.

Will Jacks (RCB)

Another player from RCB, Will Jacks, is a vital cog in England’s T20 World Cup plans. Like Topley, he might leave the IPL early to participate in T20Is against Pakistan, potentially impacting RCB’s middle-order stability.

Liam Livingstone (PBKS)

PBKS’s Liam Livingstone is another English player who could exit the IPL prematurely to feature in the Pakistan series. His departure might disrupt PBKS’s plans, especially considering his all-round capabilities.

Moeen Ali (CSK)

CSK’s Moeen Ali could face unavailability issues with England facing Pakistan from May 22 onwards. Ali’s departure might leave a void in CSK’s middle order and spin department.

Phil Salt (KKR)

Representing Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), opener Phil Salt might also face an early exit from the IPL due to England’s series against Pakistan. KKR could struggle to find a suitable replacement for Salt at the top of the order.

Joshua Little (Gujarat Titans)

Although he hasn’t featured in any games this season, Joshua Little of Gujarat Titans might have to leave in May as Ireland plays Pakistan in three T20Is from May 10 to 14. His absence might not directly impact Gujarat Titans but could affect their squad depth.

Sam Curran (PBKS)

PBKS’s Sam Curran, a key member of the team, might be unavailable towards the end of the league stage due to his international commitments. His absence could pose challenges for PBKS in both batting and bowling departments.

Jonny Bairstow (PBKS)

Another PBKS player, Jonny Bairstow, might have to depart early to be available for England’s T20Is against Pakistan. His early exit could disrupt PBKS’s batting plans and team balance.

See Also: Shubman Gill gives an epic reply to ‘leaving it too late for a win’ comment

These potential departures due to international commitments highlight the delicate balance between IPL participation and national team duties. Cricket enthusiasts will keenly observe how these developments unfold and the subsequent impact on their respective IPL franchises.