Rajasthan Royals have been dealt with a massive blow as in-form batsman Liam Livingstone is likely to miss the first few games of the second phase of IPL 2021. The UAE leg is scheduled to commence on September 19 with Chennai Super Kings going up against defending champions Mumbai Indians.
Incidentally, Livingstone has hurt himself in a Division 1 match of the County Championship while playing for Lancashire against Warwickshire on August 30. While fielding first for Lancashire, Liam Livingstone ran to save the boundary but ended up hurting himself on his shoulder once he dived.
Liam Livingstone up to his usual nonsense #Blast21pic.twitter.com/YA68YAA6Fi
— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) August 26, 2021
As things look, the star England batsman might have to sit out for a few games before he can take the field for the Rajasthan Royals. It will be a blow for the Sanju Samson-led side, who are already without the likes of Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, and Jofra Archer.
Liam Livingstone has been in mad form as he finished as the highest run-scorer in the inaugural edition of The Hundred with 348 runs from nine matches at a strike rate of 178.46.
Rajasthan Royals rope in Tabraiz Shamsi and Glenn Phillips as replacements
Meanwhile, Rajasthan, who are currently in the fifth spot of the IPL 2021 points table, have signed New Zealand wicket-keeper batsman Glenn Phillips and top-ranked T20I bowler Tabraiz Shamsi as replacements for Jos Buttler and Andrew Tye respectively.
Reacting to his selection, the Proteas spinner said he is excited to play for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. This will be his second stint in the IPL folklore having played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2016.
Shamsi is the Royals' second replacement signing for the remainder of #IPL2021, replacing AJ Tye.
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) August 25, 2021
“I’m not going to sit here and pretend that I’m not excited about (the IPL). I am very excited. Especially because I’ve never played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The IPL is a different thing. I have played in the past but I was a lot younger and I didn’t get a lot of game time regularly,” Shamsi said to ESPNCricinfo.Â
Rajasthan Royals will begin their campaign against Punjab Kings on September 21 in Dubai.
