Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have received a timely boost ahead of the final stretch of IPL 2025 with the return of key overseas players Romario Shepherd and Liam Livingstone. Their arrival comes as the tournament resumes after a week-long pause and as the playoff race heats up. Shepherd landed in India along with fellow West Indians Andre Russell and Sunil Narine of Kolkata Knight Riders, accompanied by team mentor Dwayne Bravo.
The reunion of the Caribbean stars was highlighted on Bravo’s Instagram story, signalling their readiness to rejoin IPL action. Romario Shepherd has had limited opportunities this season, but his impact has been undeniable. In his only appearance so far, he smashed a whirlwind 53 off just 14 balls against Chennai Super Kings — the fastest half-century in RCB’s IPL history.
His innings, which featured four boundaries and six massive sixes, instantly made him a fan favourite and added a new dimension to RCB’s middle-order firepower. However, Shepherd’s continued availability remains in doubt. He has been named in the West Indies squad for the ODI series against England beginning May 29, coinciding with the IPL playoffs.
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Cricket West Indies has yet to confirm if he, Russell, and Narine will be allowed to fulfil their IPL commitments before joining national duty. On a brighter note, Liam Livingstone’s return provides a massive advantage to RCB.
Shepherd and Livingstone are back in the RCB camp.#RCB #IPL2025 #CricketUpdate #Shepherd #Livingstone #PlayoffPush pic.twitter.com/cTYGMsiqKa
— Big Boost News (@BigBoostNews) May 15, 2025
The explosive English all-rounder has been left out of England’s ODI squad for the same series, making him fully available for RCB’s remaining matches. His power-hitting and spin-bowling versatility could prove vital in the crunch games ahead. England youngster Jacob Bethell has also rejoined the squad and will be available for two more matches — against KKR and SRH — before returning home. If RCB qualify for the playoffs, he will not be part of the squad.
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Phil Salt and Tim David, crucial to RCB’s balance, remain available throughout the tournament, providing stability. However, pacers Josh Hazlewood and Lungi Ngidi might miss the playoffs due to their Test commitments, with the World Test Championship final set to begin on June 11. In such a scenario, Sri Lanka’s Nuwan Thushara is expected to take on a more prominent role.
With 16 points from 11 matches, RCB are well-placed in the playoff race. Yet, with stiff competition from the likes of Gujarat Titans, Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, and LSG, the margin for error is minimal in the final stretch.
