AB de Villiers Backs RCB’s Call to Release Liam Livingstone, Ngidi & Mayank

AB de Villiers said he wasn’t surprised by RCB’s decision to release Mayank Agarwal, Lungi Ngidi, and Liam Livingstone before the IPL 2026 auction.

Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru star AB de Villiers has backed the franchise’s decision to release Mayank Agarwal, Lungi Ngidi and Liam Livingstone ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. He said the team made a sensible call by retaining most of its title-winning core from 2025.

De Villiers noted that Livingstone’s inconsistent form in recent seasons likely contributed to the move, while Ngidi also had mixed performances. He suggested that releasing the trio gives RCB more flexibility at the auction.

“No surprise here as we kept the bulk of the team together. I was hoping they would do something along these lines and they ended up doing that. Almost keeping that starting 11 from the final. Liam and Lungi both played well at times, but there will be some thinking behind that. I am not completely surprised (Liam release). He was a little bit inconsistent and there were other players who put up their hands. That opens up the purse which is crucial as they fight to get the balance right,” De Villiers said on his YouTube channel.

Concerns Grow Over Hazlewood’s Workload

AB de Villiers also believes Royal Challengers Bengaluru must have a reliable backup for Josh Hazlewood ahead of IPL 2026, given the pacer’s heavy workload and recent injury concerns. Notably, Hazlewood is set for a demanding Ashes series, raising uncertainty over his availability and match fitness for the IPL.

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“We know Hazlewood will be playing the Ashes, huge workload. Will he be fit and ready to go? Will he play all the matches or just half? We don’t know that. So Livingstone doesn’t solve that problem. They will target an Indian or overseas pacer and there needs to be backup. They’ve kept the bulk and they do believe now. There’s no reason for chopping and changing,” De Villiers concluded.