Liam Livingstone, one of the two overseas players released by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction, appears to be on a mission to prove his worth again and he is doing it in style. The English power-hitter has been striking the ball clean and long, showcasing his resurgence with some monumental knocks since his exit from the franchise.
In the ILT20 clash against Sharjah Warriors, Livingstone is now representing Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, hammered an exceptional unbeaten 82 off just 38 balls, propelling his side to a massive 233/3 in 20 overs. The destructive all-rounder, who has been part of the IPL circuit since 2019, spent only one season with RCB before being released. But his blistering innings in the ILT20 may have just reopened the bidding race for him.
Abu Dhabi faced early setbacks after losing Michael-Kyle Pepper in the 3rd over and Alex Hales in the 8th, but Livingstone’s arrival changed the tempo of the game entirely. Batting with a strike rate of 215.79, he belted 8 sixes and 2 fours, stitching valuable partnerships with Alishan Sharafu and Sherfane Rutherford. Rutherford matched the flow with an explosive 45 off 27 balls as the duo powered their side beyond 200.
Among Sharjah’s bowlers, only Adil Rashid managed notable impact, finishing with two wickets at an economy of 7.75. For RCB, Livingstone was a ₹8.5 crore investment last season, but his return wasn’t quite fruitful, only 112 runs and two wickets in 10 matches. However, if his ILT20 performance is anything to go by, his auction value may only head upward, with franchises now watching him with renewed interest.
Livingstone has sent a clear message that form is temporary, but firepower is permanent.
