Royal Challengers Struggle at Home as Livingstone’s Form Dips

BENGALURU, India — The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) faced a challenging start to IPL 2025, having conquered formidable opponents on the road but failing to secure a win at home. Their recent loss to Punjab Kings marked the third consecutive defeat at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, all while batting first.

Despite boasting a lineup filled with proficient hitters against pace bowling, RCB has encountered difficulties on their home turf. In two of their three home games, they struggled against opposing seamers, with bowlers like Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, and Marco Jansen taking advantage of the conditions.

The M Chinnaswamy Stadium, once known as a batting haven during the peak years of the 2010s, has transformed under the guidance of coach Andy Flower. Bowlers have begun to find significant assistance from the pitch, with most of the 23 wickets taken by pace bowlers in the last three matches resulting from cross-batted shots, notably off good-length deliveries.

One of the standout players in the IPL, Liam Livingstone, traditionally an explosive performer against pace, has struggled in the early matches of the current season. With just 87 runs over six innings, including a high score of 54 in one match, Livingstone’s recent form raises concerns. Historically, he has averaged 200.00 against pace from prior seasons, but this IPL he has managed only 31 runs off 31 balls faced.

Livingstone has notably been out against pace four times this season, all from deliveries outside off-stump, as he attempts cross-bat shots which have led to him being dismissed in the area between the wicketkeeper and cover point. A pattern emerges here, as 19 of his 23 dismissals against pace throughout his IPL career also occurred against balls pitched outside the off-stump.

When analyzing strike rates, Livingstone’s current performance against pace reveals a stark contrast to prior years. While he excelled against fuller deliveries, averaging 85 runs and striking at 218, he experienced drastic declines with good-length and shorter balls, averaging just 18.41 with a strike rate of 183. RCB bowlers have strategically targeted him this season, delivering 23 out of 31 balls in the channel outside off, leading to four dismissals.

The challenges presented by the Chinnaswamy pitch prompt both the RCB batting lineup and Livingstone himself to discover effective strategies for scoring, especially with four of their remaining six games slated to be played at home.