San Francisco Unicorns Stay Unbeaten with Dominant Win Over Seattle Orcas

In Match 16 of the Major League Cricket season 2025 , the Seattle Orcas played against San Francisco Unicorn. The Seattle Orcas won the toss and chose to bowl first, hoping to break the San Francisco Unicorns’ winning streak in this match. But it was the San Francisco Unicorns who once again stole the show and won the easy game, securing their sixth win and holding on to the top spot .

Batting first, the San Francisco Unicorns put up a solid total of 176 for 8 in their 20 overs. Romario Shepherd was in power-hitting mode, smashing 56 off just 31 balls. Skipper Matthew Short continued his fine form with a quickfire 52 off 29 deliveries, while Jake Fraser-McGurk added momentum with a handy 34 off 21.

Seattle’s bowlers did have their moments Harmeet Singh stood out with figures of 3 for 22, and Gerald Coetzee also impressed with 3 for 34. Cameron Gannon added one wicket to his name with a spell of 1 for 32.

Chasing 177, Seattle began well but couldn’t hold on under pressure. Shayan Jahangir top-scored with a quick 40 off 22 balls, while Shimron Hetmyer chipped in with 30 from 16 and David Warner made 23. However, no one stayed long enough to guide the chase.

San Francisco’s bowlers turned up the heat Haris Rauf led the way with 4 for 32, and captain Matthew Short surprised everyone with 3 for 12 in just 2 overs. Romario Shepherd capped off a brilliant all-round performance by picking 2 for 16 in his 3-over spell.

Seattle were bowled out for 144 in 18.2 overs, giving San Francisco a comprehensive 32-run victory and keeping their perfect season alive.

ALSO READ: "Shardul can start the bowling with Siraj" - former India captain's huge claim after ENG vs IND 2025 1st Test

Twitter reactions after SFU wins 16th match of  MLC 2025

🏏 The orcas do well to restrict SFU to 176-8. Run chase up next!

📺 Watch live and exclusive on https://t.co/ktQmbfqs7H#MLC | #SEOvSFU pic.twitter.com/HsEuR11poi

— Willow TV US (@willowtv) June 26, 2025

Great comeback this is from SFU.. Much appreciated lads !! 😍#MLC25#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/FOnhvC2D41

— NEXSUN (@nexsunn) June 26, 2025

SanFrancisco form this season - W W W W W W !!

SFU are sure shot trophy contenders this season 🏆 !!#MLC2025 #MLC #SFU pic.twitter.com/FxRql1gc4Y

— TheXReplier (@ReplySensei) June 26, 2025

San Francisco Unicorns in #MLC2025 Playoffs. 6 Wins in a Row for @SFOUnicorns in #MLC2025. SFU won by 32 Runs. What a Performance Matt Short 52(29) & 3/12 and Romario Shepherd 56(31) & 2/16. Excellent spell H Rauf 4/32.@SFOUnicorns #SOvSFU @mattshort95 @DavidDejonge2

— JaayShaan (VaidhyaJayaShankar) (@JaayShaan) June 26, 2025

MLC 2025 SOR vs SFU Highlights | San Francisco Unicorns Won by 32 Runs

Read: https://t.co/fSA5YxhquP#MLC2025 #CricketNews

— Times of Sports (@timesofsports) June 26, 2025

Another win for SFU & they have qualified for the playoffs . Unbeaten till now , TSK has to compete with WF for the top 2 . #MLC25

— ★ 𝘖𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 ★ (@aravindmsd_07) June 26, 2025

In Match 16 of the 2025 Major League Cricket season, Seattle Orcas played hosts to undefeated San Francisco Unicorns at Grand Prairie Stadium, Texas. Seattle won the toss and decided to bowl first, but the Unicorns went from strength to strength with both bat and ball to record their sixth win on the trot and stay comfortably at the top of the table.

San Francisco Unicorns Innings

Batting first, the Unicorns scored a total of 176/8 in 20 overs. Romario Shepherd took charge with a muscular 56 from 31 deliveries, while captain Matthew Short kept his good touch going with a brisk 52 off 29 balls. Jake Fraser-McGurk added a brisk 34 off 21 balls to give the innings momentum. Seattle’s bowlers found some success, with Harmeet Singh (3/22) and Gerald Coetzee (3/34) being the standout performers. Cameron Gannon also chipped in with 1/32.

Seattle Orcas Innings

In reply, Seattle started positively but soon crumbled under pressure. Shayan Jahangir top-scored with 40 off 22 balls, and Shimron Hetmyer contributed a handy 30 from 16. David Warner added 23, but no batter managed to anchor the innings. San Francisco’s bowling attack was ruthless—Haris Rauf once again delivered with 4/32 in 4 overs, while Matthew Short grabbed a surprising 3/12 in 2 overs. Romario Shepherd completed a superb all-round game with 2/16 in his 3-over spell as Seattle were bundled out for 144 in 18.2 overs.

See Also: MLC 2025: Points Table, leading run scorers and wicket takers after SEA vs SF Match 16

Seattle Orcas vs San Francisco Unicorns: Match Scorecard

San Francisco Unicorns – 176/8 (20 Overs)

Seattle Orcas – 144/10 (18.2 Overs)

Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) have released their 15-player side for the 2025 ExxonMobil Global Super League (GSL), as they prepare to defend their home turf at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence. With an intimidating combination of experienced internationals and emerging Caribbean talents, the Warriors are ready to give a performance to remember in front of their home crowd.

Having recorded a strong third-place finish in the first 2024 edition, the Warriors have maintained a sound core with strategic reinforcements. Seasoned players such as leg-spin sorcerer Imran Tahir, English all-rounder Moeen Ali, pace king Romario Shepherd, and left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie are back to lead the side's activities across departments.

The GSL 2025 will kick off on 10 July, with the Warriors launching their campaign in a high-octane battle against Rangpur Riders, who won the last edition, in the night match, after the tournament starter between first-timers Central Stags (New Zealand) and Hobart Hurricanes XI (Australia). Having six strong teams like the ILT20's Dubai Capitals, the GSL this year will present world-class T20 cricket.

New Faces and Key Absentees

The Warriors have added depth to their team with some game-changing signings. The explosive openers Johnson Charles and Evin Lewis are new additions along with emerging wicketkeeper-batters Amir Jangoo and Jewel Andrew. Afghan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz also returns, having made an impact in earlier CPL campaigns with his pugilistic shot selection.

See Also: GSL 2025: Rangpur Riders announce their squad for upcoming season

In the bowling ranks, Irish seamer Mark Adair and spin all-rounder Akeal Hossein bring depth and diversity, while Saud Shakeel of Pakistan brings balance to the middle order. But the team would miss Shai Hope, Kevlon Anderson, and Roston Chase—missing out on West Indies Test action—as well as all-rounder Keemo Paul, who is recovering from injury.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors 2025 GSL squad includes:
Imran Tahir, Evin Lewis, Johnson Charles, Moeen Ali, Shimron Hetmyer, Saud Shakeel, Romario Shepherd, Dwain Pretorius, Gudakesh Motie, Akeal Hossein, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mark Adair, Jewel Andrew, Shamar Springer, and Amir Jangoo.

Warrior Nation is primed for battle at home! 🇬🇾

The Guyana Amazon Warriors confirm their squad for the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League 🌎

READ MORE: https://t.co/bRxdaFMyhc#GSLT20 #GlobalSuperLeague #GuyanaAmazonWarriors pic.twitter.com/MCQrEqDkQg

— Global Super League (@gslt20) June 13, 2025

Dwayne Bravo, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) IPL 2025 mentor, posted a thrilling video on May 14, 2025, showing the arrival of West Indian players in India for the current tournament. The video, uploaded on Bravo's social media, shows Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Romario Shepherd, who arrived in India to play for their respective IPL teams. The IPL, which was suspended for a week following geopolitical tension before resuming on May 17, had the Caribbean stars joining it, adding another level of excitement to the league as it enters its decisive phase.

The camaraderie between the West Indian trio is brought out in the video, with Narine (KKR), Russell (KKR), and Shepherd (RCB) traveling together, reflecting their excitement about the IPL. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans, especially, welcomed Shepherd's arrival, as his addition bolsters their team, which is currently 2nd with 16 points from 11 games. Shepherd's participation, however, could be curtailed by England's ODI series against the West Indies, which conflicts with the latter part of the IPL, including the playoffs.

A Boost to IPL Teams

Shepherd's addition is a huge fillip for RCB, who signed him for INR 1.5 crore prior to the 2025 season. His all-round ability, with a T20I batting strike rate of close to 140 and a bowling average of less than 28, brings depth to RCB's lineup as they chase their maiden IPL title. Narine and Russell's inclusion strengthens KKR, even though they are 6th-placed with 11 points from 12 games.

Watch the video here

🚨🎥Mentor DJ Bravo, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine are back in India for remaining part of IPL 2025. 💜 pic.twitter.com/e2VyPXzpS3

— KKR Vibe (@KnightsVibe) May 14, 2025

Also Read: BCCI drops bomb shell update on replacement players of remainder of IPL 2025

The West Indian players' arrival has generated hope among fans, with the IPL to gain from their panache. But their availability is a cause of concern because of international obligations, putting franchises' depth to the test as the tournament moves closer to the June 3 final.

Romario Shepherd's blistering innings forced cricket lovers to reopen the IPL record book to check the fastest 50 the tournament has ever witnessed. The Caribbean batter created mayhem in M Chinnaswamy Stadium during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) vs. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) match 52 of IPL 2025. Here, in the article, we'll show you the top 10 half-centuries scored at a rapid pace. 

10. 16-ball half-century for Suresh Raina 

May 30, 2014, when Chennai Super Kings collided with Kings XI Punjab, now Punjab Kings. In this match, Raina produced one of the best IPL innings he had ever played. He completed his half-century in 26 balls, missing a ton by a 13-run margin. The match was high-scoring; Virendra Sehwag, the man of the match, recorded a 122-run innings for Punjab. CSK scored 202 in a reply to 226. 

15-ball half-century 

There are 4 cricketers who scored 50 by playing only 15 balls. Yusuf Pathan, Sunil Narine, and Nicholas Pooran once, and Jake Fraser-McGurk twice achieved this feat. 

9. Jack Fraser-McGurk's 50 in 15 balls

The Australian explosive batter started his IPL career with a bang. In IPL 2024, he completed two half-centuries, facing 15 balls. The Delhi Capitals batter took his team to a fairytale start when he scored a lightning-fast 50 against the Mumbai Indians on April 27. DC, batting first, registered a mammoth total of 257, 84 for Jake. Mumbai, in this thrilling match, scored 247. 

Read More: [IPL 2025] DRS Controversy: Dewald Brevis Out Without Timer, Rohit Sharma Took Late Review – Double Standards?

8. Again a 15-ball 50 for Jake Fraser-McGurk 

In the same season, Fraser-McGurk again hammered a 15-ball half-century, this time against Sunrisers Hyderabad. SRH, with their top game, scored 266. DC, with Jake, pushed hard to get the total but could not succeed. The Aussie batter scored his remarkable 50 under high pressure. 

7. Nicholas Pooran with 15 balls half century 

Lucknow Super Giants emerged victorious while chasing Royal Challengers Bengaluru's 212. Nicholas Pooran was the star performer of the match, scoring 62 off 19 balls and taking 15 deliveries to reach 50. 

6. Sunil Narine scored 50 in 15 balls

The mystery spinnerned all-rounder has a fast 50 under his belt while playing against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2017. The Kolkata Knight Riders cricketer scored a total of 54 in 17 balls as an opener in this match. KKR won the match with ease by 6 wickets. RCB scored only 158 in the 20 overs limit. 

5. 15-ball 50 for Yusuf Pathan

It was a Yusuf Pathan show at the Eden Gardens against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2014. Another entry in the list who took only 15 balls to deliver a 50. Pathan scored 72 in 22 balls and secured a victory for KKR. 161 was the target for KKR, set by the visiting team. 

14-ball 50

Three cricketers are in the list, including Romario Shepherd. KL Rahul and Pat Cummins are the other two cricketers in the category. 

4. Romario Shepherd completed 50 in 14 balls

The latest addition to the list, whose unbeaten 53 with 14 balls secured 213 in 20 overs for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. RCB won thek-and-neck match against Chennai Super Kings by only 2 runs. 

3. Pat Cummins produced a 14-ball 50

Back in 2022, Pat Cummins was a Kolkata Knight Riders cricketer who scored one of the fastest half centuries in IPL history. Cummins's unbeaten 56 off 15 balls helped KKR to safely reach the target of 162 set by the Mumbai Indians. 

2. KL Rahul also scored 50 runs in 14 balls

A Lokesh Rahul masterclass for Kings XI Punjab, now known as Punjab Kings in IPL 2018, confirmed a swift victory for Punjab against Delhi Capitals. Kings easily achieved the target of 167, with Rahul coming as an opener and scoring 51 runs against 16 balls. 

Quickest IPL 50 of all time 

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal took only 13 balls for his half century 

The number 1 candidate in the list. The young Indian batter took only 13 balls to complete his half-century against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2023. Rajasthan Royals won the match by 9 wickets and 41 balls to spare. KKR set a target of 150 for Royals. 

In IPL 2025 Match 52, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 2 runs, easily defending 213/5 in what turned out to be an entertaining match, with CSK scoring 211/5. CSK was unable to cross RCB's target. RCB held off CSK thanks to their explosive batting and smart bowling. Below are the main reasons CSK came up short in the match.

CSK's chase started well with Ayush Mhatre (94 runs off 48) and Ravindra Jadeja (77 runs off 45) showing strong intent; however, the run rate got behind the 214-run target. RCB seems to have good bowling plans with their bowlers applying pressure and needing to step up for their team when it was most needed, particularly Krunal Pandya (1/24) and Yash Dayal (1/41), which help CSK slow down their scoring rate, with Pandya having dispatched a key batter in the 17th over. MS Dhoni did his best to finish the potentially winning runs, hitting a late 12 runs off 8 balls, but he could only manage abysmal shots, leaving too much to the tail. CSK's death bowling also failed, giving up more than 70 runs in the last five overs of the innings, with Romario Shepherd's two-ball blitz of an unbeaten 53 runs off 14 balls hurting CSK with extra runs! CSK bowler Pathirana had 3/36, but CSK missed yorkers and using their variations in particular in the last, which allowed RCB to set the formidable target amount that CSK ultimately came so close to, however, just missed out on in their finishing stage.

Romario Shepherd’s Game-Changing Death Overs

RCB posted a tough score to chase of 213/5 largely due to Romario Shepherd’s 53* off 14 balls, a remarkable clearing of the boundary late on. Shepherd’s innings, in conjunction with rapid scoring from other batsmen, saw RCB score over 70 runs in the final 5 overs, which was remarked as the difference in turning a good score into a better score during the death overs. CSK’s bowlers did not have answers in the death overs, and Shepherd took full advantage of CSK's bowlers' inability to execute as planned while under pressure. 

Also Read: IPL 2025, Match 52: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings Full Match Highlights

Bowling Ineffectively In The Death Overs

To quote CSK Captain MS Dhoni, "The final overs were expensive." CSK's bowling plans fell apart quite easily, and execution of yorkers and such went missing on the day, leaving only Matheesha Pathirana (3/36) a positive. Sam Curran (1/34) and Noor Ahmad (1/26) were expensive when CSK were looking for an excellent close to the innings. This was more so when RCB was able to finish with exactly what CSK did not want, while CSK was looking to keep RCB from setting a supernova target for the 2nd inning. 

Lack of Finishing Touch in the Chase

In chasing 214, CSK managed to fall short with their 211/5 final after an extraordinary innings of 94 by Ayush Mhatre off 48 and 77 by Ravindra Jadeja off 45. Notably, MS Dhoni entered the crease quite late and could not convert on some key shots, which he acknowledged was crucial. The absence of a finishing touch to round out a chase, however good it was, did not carry forth, with RCB’s Krunal Pandya (1/24) and Yash Dayal (1/41) holding their nerve in the tense final overs.

The IPL 2025 Match 52 between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) delivered a nail-biting contest, with RCB clinching a 2-run victory in a high-scoring encounter. RCB posted 213/5, while CSK fell just short at 211/5, setting the stage for a classic rivalry showdown.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru innings 

RCB posted a very decent score of 213/5 in their 20 overs thanks to a destructive two-thirds of an innings from Virat Kohli. The captain got into gear to hit a rapid 92 runs off 33 balls to annihilate the CSK bowlers with his aggressive play. Jacob Bethel played a sensible innings, scoring a quick 55 runs off 33 balls to hold down the middle periods of the innings. A late charge from Romario Shepherd with a *53 runs off 14 balls pushed RCB past the 200 runs with massive swings. The CSK bowlers were blasted for runs against the batter. Matheesha Pathirana (3/36) and Lungi Ngidi scraped together (3), and the amount of wickets taken. Noor Ahmad, Sam Curran, and Yash Dayal each chipped in with one wicket each, but they had too many RCB bats to restrict.

Chennai Super Kings innings 

The run chase of 214 saw CSK push their total to 211/5 in a tense finish, with only 2 more runs chipped away with the run chase. Ayush Mhatre played a brilliant innings, sending 94 runs off 48 balls, keeping his bounds privy and picking up key singles. Ravindra Jadeja's support blasting his classy 77 runs off 45 also struck critical sixes in the middle overs. Shaik Rasheed, undoubtedly, had little benefit in building momentum for the lower order with 14 off 11. The RCB bowlers bought familiar discipline with Krunal Pandya (1/24) and Yash Dayal (1/41), as both bowlers kept runs to a minimum with some key bats to scurry the chase along in the first half. RCB’s Krunal Pandya (1/24) and Yash Dayal (1/41) bowled tightly in the death overs, securing a 2-run victory in a thrilling finish.

Also Read: Top 3 reasons why Chennai Super Kings Lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025 Match 52

RCB vs CSK: Post Match Reactions

Romario Shepherd (Player of the Match): Shepherd was thrilled to finally get his opportunity, looking to end strongly and attribute his power to his base and swing position. He credited DK for helping with big-hitting practice in the nets, which paid off. Shepherd explained that he didn’t have a specific score in mind but aimed to hit each ball for boundaries. He appreciated Tim David's advice to stay composed and hold his base. Despite struggling with the ball, he lauded his teammates Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar, and Ngidi for stepping up.

Rajat Patidar (Royal Challengers Captain): Patidar complimented the opposition batters but also showed faith in his bowlers. He showed faith in the risk he took to give the spinner Suyash the 18th over as he was delighted with Romario's finish. He was also happy with Lungi Ngidi's efforts in replacing Hazlewood by bringing white-ball experience. It is good to be at the top of the table, but with three games to go, the focus is on them and not just qualifying.

MS Dhoni (Super Kings Captain): Dhoni said he was accountable for missing a few big shots in a tight chase. He praised Shepherd's incredible hitting at the death and felt it was important to have the bowlers convert their yorkers consistently. He praised Ayush Mhatre's innings, and it had been batting that had been a problem earlier, but today it clicked, although with the bowling they fell short.

Also Read: IPL 2025: KKR vs RR Match 53 - A Head to Head breakdown

Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings: Match Scorecard

Royal Challengers Bengaluru – 213/5 (20 Overs)

Chennai Super Kings – 211/5 (20 Overs)

Romario Shepherd stole the spotlight at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium tonight, blasting the fastest fifty of IPL 2025 to power Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a towering 213/5 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). His breathtaking knock—53 off just 14 balls—turned the game on its head in the final overs and left CSK shell-shocked.

RCB got off to a solid start after being asked to bat first. Veteran batter Virat Kohli was in dazzling touch, scoring 62 off 33 balls, while young Jacob Bitt provided excellent support with 55 off 33. The pair helped RCB race to a strong position before wickets started tumbling.

After the fall of the openers, RCB’s momentum took a hit. Devdutt Padikkal (17), Rajat Patidar (11), Jitesh Sharma (7), and Tim David (2) couldn't get going. The scoring rate dipped and CSK appeared to pull the game back with disciplined bowling through the middle overs.

Also read: WATCH: Khaleel Ahmed’s wild reaction after Virat Kohli catch – Another verbal spat incoming?

Romario Shepherd vs Khaleel Ahmed 19th Over Ball-By-Ball🔥🔥
pic.twitter.com/ae5OLam5yS

— A (@cmmoncheeks) May 3, 2025

Romario's 14-Ball Fury Lights Up Chinnaswamy

Just as RCB looked like finishing below par, Romario Shepherd unleashed a sensational counterattack. Walking in with just a few overs remaining, Shepherd smashed the bowlers to all corners of the ground, reaching his fifty in just 14 balls—the fastest of the IPL 2025 season.

Top 5 Fastest Fifties in IPL History

• Yashasvi Jaiswal – 50 in 13 balls
• Romario Shepherd – 50 in 14 balls
• KL Rahul – 50 in 14 balls
• Pat Cummins – 50 in 14 balls
• Yusuf Pathan – 50 in 15 balls 

Also read: Gujarat Titans star Kagiso Rabada caught in Drug Scandal – Read full story

Shepherd’s explosive hitting featured multiple sixes and boundaries, flipping the momentum of the innings in a matter of minutes. His heroics ensured RCB set a challenging total, leaving CSK with a steep chase ahead.

The stage is now set for a thrilling second innings, but Romario’s record-breaking blitz will be the talk of the night regardless of the outcome.

After a disturbing performance against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in M. Chinnaswamy, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are now up against the same opponent, Punjab Kings, in their home ground, which is now Mullanpur Stadium. Unlike their home matches, RCB has achieved a very good winning record in their away games. To enhance their out-of-home winning ratio and to get back on the winning ways, Bengaluru has decided to play Romario Shepherd in place of Liam Livingstone. But why is the team management showing trust in the Caribbean over the T20 specialist Livingstone? 

Livingstone, from the beginning of the IPL 2025, is an integral part of the red and black squad, playing 7 matches so far but barely able to justify his name. 

The English batter is mostly known for his power-hitting skills, but for RCB, he was far away from his peak performance. In 6 innings, the right-handed batter welcomed only 87 runs in total, including a 54-run inning, 17.40 on average. Even with the ball in hand, Liam underperformed—2 wickets in 5 innings.

Read More: [Watch] Avesh Khan’s mother in tears after his match winning IPL 2025 spell

Royal Challengers Bengaluru needs someone on the field who can make some quick runs and support the bowling dependent as well. So, they choose to go with Romario Shepherd. The West Indian all-rounder has played plenty of cricket in subcontinent conditions, especially in franchise cricket. 

Romario's performance

The bowling all-rounder had a decent outing with Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2024, played a crucial unbeaten 39-run innings, and, overall, averaged 28.50 with MI, powered by an exceptional strike rate of 271.42. In the Caribbean Premier League, the 30-year-old all-rounder batted with a 161.04 strike rate, and in the Bangladesh Premier League, he recorded a 152.54 strike rate as a batter. 

Along with his big hitting skills, Shepherd's ability as a bowler is appreciable—72 wickets in CPL, 13 wickets in SA20, 5 wickets in BPL, and 4 wickets in IPL. 

Punjab Kings (Playing XI)

Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (C), Josh Inglis (WK), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Impact players - Harpreet Brar, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Praveen Dubey, Glenn Maxwell and Suryansh Shedge.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI)

Virat Kohli, Phil Salt (WK), Rajat Patidar (C), Romario Shepherd (In for Liam Livingstone), Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal.

Impact players - Devdutt Padikkal, Rasikh Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell and Swapnil Singh.

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.