‘Leg Side Lapebaaz’ - Fans react as reports of Liam Livingstone not playing the opening match for Punjab in Indian T20 League 2023 circulate

The Punjab franchise will kick off their Indian T20 League 2023 campaign against Kolkata on 1 April. The match will take place at their home ground. But, ahead of the opening game, now reports have come out that top England batter, Liam Livingstone will miss the first match for Punjab.

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In the last season, he came up with some terrific knocks while batting in the middle order, So, fans were not happy with such reports and they came up with their views on the social media platform. Last year, he made his Test debut in Pakistan but he sustained a knee injury in that game.

Liam Livingstone scored 437 runs in 14 matches in the Indian T20 League 2022 for Punjab

Since then, he has not played any competitive games. Livingstone also suffered an ankle injury in the Hundred competition in 2022. One official of the Indian Cricket Board opened up to PTI and said: "He is out of the first game at least as the ECB is conducting scans to determine his fitness status. He should be available from the second game onwards". Punjab will take on Rajasthan on 5 April in Guwahati in their second game of the season. In 2022, he had a good season for Punjab. Liam Livingstone scored 437 runs in 14 matches, at an average of 36.42.

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But, it was his strike rate that impressed every fan. The star England batter batted at a mammoth strike rate of 182.08. He even took six wickets with the ball. So, his all-round abilities made him an integral part of the franchise. However, now Punjab might look to include Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza into the equation in order to replace him in the playing XI for the first match. Apart from Livingstone, Kagiso Rabada will also miss the opening match due to his national duties. On 3 April, he is expected to join the franchise.

Here is how fans have reacted to the reports of the England batter missing the opening match:

😹

— AR (@31_FOREVER_) March 29, 2023

Let's laugh on @dispresionmehu 😂😂😂

— supremo ` (@hyperKohli) March 29, 2023

Rabada and now Liam 😞😞

— Punjab kings fan (@TGCAPTAINYT1) March 29, 2023

Sikandar Raza is a good option for replace. He is better than livingstone @SRazaB24

Love you saki...

— Soola (@IM_Prosecutor) March 29, 2023

Leg Side Lapebaaz 🤣🤣

— Rudraa (@rudra13_) March 29, 2023

Pengland players are overrated

— :) (@_that_one__Guy) March 29, 2023

Now pbks will look like a psl team

— dinesh dinu (@dinesh_offl_06) March 29, 2023

Bach gya kkhaar

— 🇳🇿 (@Sanjona_Virus) March 29, 2023

Last year PBKS depended a lot on him and when he got out early, PBKS failed badly.

— Sports.world (@moiz_sports) March 29, 2023