Rajasthan Royals’ Liam Livingstone has left IPL 2021 and flown home to England due to bubble fatigue accumulated over the past year. Incidentally, the batsman has been travelling since the last year. He was a part of the England team that toured South Africa late last year before entering the Big Bash League bubble for his two-month-long stint with Perth Scorchers. Livingstone was also a part of England’s limited-overs squad that travelled to India for three ODIs and five T20Is.
Meanwhile, this will be a massive blow for the franchise after Ben Stokes’ injury. Incidentally, the English all-rounder sustained a broken finger during their IPL 2021 opener against Punjab Kings. He underwent surgery and will require at least 12 weeks to recover and return to the cricket field. Previously, Jofra Archer has also been ruled out from the first half of IPL 2021.
Liam Livingstone pulls out of IPL 2021
The franchise confirmed the development and said that it respects Liam Livingstone’s decision and will continue supporting the cricketer in any way it can. Livingstone is the second after Chennai Super Kings’ Josh Hazlewood to pull of the competition owing to bubble fatigue.
“Liam Livingstone has flown back home late last night, due to bubble fatigue accumulated over the past year. We understand and respect his decision, and will continue supporting him in any way we can,” the franchise wrote on Twitter.
Liam Livingstone has flown back home late last night, due to bubble fatigue accumulated over the past year. We understand and respect his decision, and will continue supporting him in any way we can.#RoyalsFamily pic.twitter.com/stYywf3tBW
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 20, 2021
Liam Livingstone represented Rajasthan Royals in four matches in IPL 2019 scoring 71 runs with the highest score of 41 runs. Many backed the English international to replace Ben Stokes in the playing XI but the management showed trust in the abilities of David Miller.
Rajasthan Royals suffered a harrowing 45-run defeat against Chennai Super Kings on Monday. The Sanju Samson-led side have now lost two out of their three games. The franchise will next face off against Royal Challengers Bangalore on April 22 (Thursday) and will be desperate to bounce back in the tournament.