No Tim David or Josh Hazlewood! RCB fans concerned with playing XI vs LSG; say 'Qualifier 1 chances are gone'

It's the final league game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The match between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) comes with a straightforward equation: if RCB wins, they secure 2nd place on the points table and qualify for Qualifier 1. However, a loss would mean they face the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Eliminator ¡ª something they'd prefer to avoid.

At the toss, RCB fans were hoping to see the return of Australia's Josh Hazlewood and a fit Tim David included in the playing XI. However, apart from winning the toss and opting to field first, little has gone RCB's way. Hazlewood is not playing in this crucial contest, and Tim David is also unavailable. Stand-in skipper Jitesh Sharma confirmed that Liam Livingstone comes into the side, while Nuwan Thushara replaces Lungi Ngidi, who has left the team.

? Toss ? @RCBTweets won the toss and elected to field against @LucknowIPL

Updates ?? https://t.co/h5KnqyuYZE #TATAIPL | #LSGvRCB pic.twitter.com/MRrMKlH7nm

¡ª IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 27, 2025

Fans concerned with RCB's playing XI

Soon after the toss, many on X (formerly Twitter) shared their concerns, questioning how RCB could win without two of their key players. Some even said RCB should forget about the dream of playing in Qualifier 1 and start preparing for the Eliminator against MI.

One said, "No HazleGod and no Tim David. Jitesh is captaining RCB again. This is the worst start to the match. Fortunately, we won the toss."

No Hazlegod and No Tim David. Jitesh is again captaining RCB. This is the worst Start for the match.
Fortunately, we won the toss.

¡ª Kaisar (@Kaisarisbest) May 27, 2025

Another said, "Jitesh said, 'In the next match, Hazlewood and Tim David will be there.'"

Jitesh said ¡°In Next match Hazlewood & Tim David will be there¡± pic.twitter.com/xNLAv892bu

¡ª Fearless? (@ViratTheLegend) May 27, 2025

One wrote, "Liam Livingstone has been absolutely useless for RCB. He has contributed nothing at all. Playing him is a huge disadvantage. Not playing Tim David is another massive setback."

Liam Livingstone has been absolutely useless for RCB. He has contributed nothing at all. Playing him is a huge disadvantage. Not playing Tim David is another massive setback.#RCB #TimDavid #LiamLivingstone #LSGvRCB

¡ª Ell Cee ? (@EllCeeeeee) May 27, 2025

Another wrote, "No David, no Hazlewood, Fraudstone is back. Yeah, we're playing the Eliminator."

No David, No Hazelwood, Fraudstone is back. Yeah, we are playing Eliminator. pic.twitter.com/YqsxsObUAj

¡ª Maxi (@Maxithebigshow) May 27, 2025

One added, "Okay, so Hazlewood is not playing. Now I¡¯m mentally preparing myself for the Eliminator."

okay so hazelwood is not playing, now i am mentally preparing myself that we're gonna play the eliminator

¡ª Kt (@_cartikay) May 27, 2025

Another stated, "Neither Hazlewood nor Tim David¡­ there's no way we are winning."

neither Hazelwood Nor tum david.. There's no way we are winning

¡ª Annie? (@annieee533061) May 27, 2025

RCB vs LSG: Teams

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarawal, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma(w/c), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Nuwan Thushara, Suyash Sharma
Impact Subs: Rajat Patidar, Rasikh Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Tim Seifert, Swapnil Singh

Lucknow Super Giants (Playing XI): Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Breetzke, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Himmat Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Avesh Khan, William ORourke
Impact Subs: Akash Maharaj Singh, Prince Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshin Kulkarni, Yuvraj Chaudhary