In a massive boost, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) overseas players Romario Shepherd and Liam Livingstone have rejoined the squad ahead of the remainder of IPL 2025. However, there is still no confirmation on the availability of two foreign pacers, Josh Hazlewood and Lungi Ngidi, for the upcoming matches.
Romario Shepherd has been named in the West Indies’ ODI squad for the upcoming series against Ireland and England, which is set to commence on May 29. Cricket West Indies is yet to provide clarity on whether players selected for the England series will be allowed to stay back in India to finish their IPL duties.
Romario Shepherd and Liam Livingstone Rejoin RCB Squad
Romario Shepherd is one of several West Indies players who have returned to India for the IPL, alongside Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) stars Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, as well as their team mentor, Dwayne Bravo.
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Liam Livingstone has also rejoined Royal Challengers Bengaluru. His England teammate, Jacob Bethell, is already back with the squad. Bethell has been named in England’s white-ball squads for the upcoming home series against the West Indies, but Livingstone was left out of both the ODI and T20I teams.
Bethell will be available for RCB’s next two matches against Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) before flying back to England ahead of their clash with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
No Clarity Yet on Josh Hazlewood and Lungi Ngidi’s Return
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are still waiting for updates on the availability of Josh Hazlewood and Lungi Ngidi. Hazlewood, who has been dealing with a shoulder issue, was already expected to miss the rest of the season even before the IPL was suspended.
Ngidi, who replaced Hazlewood in the match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 3, is also part of South Africa’s squad for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. The South African is likely to leave the IPL by May 25.
Meanwhile, Phil Salt, who missed the last two games due to illness, is expected to be available for the rest of the season. He is only part of England’s T20I squad for the West Indies series starting June 6, three days after the IPL final.
RCB Aim for Playoffs Qualification Against KKR as IPL 2025 Resumes
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are in second place on the IPL 2025 points table with 16 points from 11 matches. They have won eight games and lost three so far, and a victory in their next home match will confirm their playoff spot.
RCB is also aiming for a top-two finish, which usually requires around 20 points based on recent IPL seasons. Winning their next two matches could put them in a good position to play in Qualifier 1, increasing their chances of reaching the final stages.
RCB will face KKR at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, May 17. The team has been in good form, but the long break raises questions about whether they can maintain their momentum.
Also read: Jake Fraser-McGurk OUT of IPL 2025; Bangladesh pacer named replacement
