IPL auction masterplan for RCB: How Maxwell for Livingstone can weave magic for 2025 winners

Glenn Maxwell and Liam Livingstone have contrasting returns for RCB [Source: AFP]

Glenn Maxwell, the renowned Australian allrounder, finds his IPL career in jeopardy as we inch closer to the retention deadline, which will be followed by the mini auction. Maxwell was purchased by Punjab Kings at a price of INR 4.2 Crores. However, the move backfired on the Shreyas Iyer-led outfit, with Maxwell managing just 48 runs at a miserable average of eight and a strike rate of 97.96. 

Eventually, the Australian talisman got injured, with PBKS roping in Mitchell Owen as his replacement. So, considering Maxwell is 37 and failed to live up to the expectations, the Punjab Kings will likely release him to the IPL mini auction pool. 

Now, if Maxwell is released, Royal Challengers Bengaluru should be one of the teams to raise the paddle for him in the auction due to several reasons. 

Maxwell for RCB vs Maxwell for other teams

(Glenn Maxwell has been a better player for RCB than other teams)

Key observations and inference

• As evidenced by the above stats, Maxwell has been a phenomenal performer for RCB with bat and ball. The Australian ace averages just over 20 and has an economy rate of 8.56 with the ball for other IPL teams. 
• Meanwhile, he has not only smashed 1266 runs at a higher average and strike rate but also bagged 18 wickets at a much better economy in RCB colours. 

Reasons Why Maxwell did well for RCB but failed for PBKS

• Besides the batting-friendly nature of the pitch at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, the way RCB think tank used his spin-hitting expertise helped Maxwell give his best for the Bengaluru-based franchise. 
• With Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli opening the batting, Maxwell was given a clear role to take on the spin bowlers and medium pacers, while having Rajat Patidar, an excellent hitter of raw pace, to shield him from hard-length bowling. 
• However, the case wasn't same for Maxwell in the PBKS camp. While RCB primarily sent him to bat through the middle overs, slotting him at four in 41 out of 50 innings, Punjab Kings used Maxwell mostly at number six. 
• The Australian batter was already struggling to get going and the lack of vacancy in Punjab's top four made matters worse for him. Statistically, Maxwell played 508 out of 795 balls for RCB in the middle overs (7-15 over phase), scoring 749 runs at a magnificent strike rate of 147.4. 

Maxwell for Livingstone: A trick that can make RCB invincible

After releasing Maxwell following one bad season, RCB used Liam Livingstone in a similar role in IPL 2025. However, the Englishman failed to deliver, managing just 112 runs at an average of 16 and a strike rate of 133.33. So, considering he was purchased at a whopping price of INR 8.75 Crores, the Royal Challengers might release him and free-up the amount before the next auction. 

(Maxwell vs Livingstone in middle overs in IPL)

If Livingstone gets axed, RCB could bring Maxwell back to fill his void in the middle order. As evidenced by the above stats, Maxwell has been a much better performer than Livingstone in the middle overs in IPL. 

Additionally, his value is expected to drop further following his failure to deliver the goods for PBKS. Thus, the IPL 2026 auction could be RCB's best chance to pick Livingstone's upgrade at a lower price and further strengthen their spin-hitting, with Rajat Patidar, Tim David and Romario Shepherd already boosting the finishing department. 

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