The Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the defending champions of the Indian Premier League.
He walked in to bat when the score was 30/3. Australia had lost three wickets in a span of eight deliveries, and Kagiso Rabada was breathing fire. RCB star Tim David defended the first ball he played. Or let’s rephrase that. Tim David defended only the first ball he played. The commentators were speaking about showing respect to Rabada when he was on the top of his game, which he was. But David stepped out on his very second ball, and smashed Rabada over his head for a maximum. That is some respect shown, ain’t it?
AUSA-W
144/8
INDA-W
140/8
KNK
171/10
VSS
195/5
Vijayawada Sunshiners beat Kakinada Kings by 24 runs
BVB
141/3
ROR
139/10
Bhimavaram Bulls beat Royals of Rayalaseema by 7 wickets
AMR
–
TBW
–
SVL
–
KNK
–
PD
152/10
NDS
179/8
North Delhi Strikers won by 27 runs
WDL
156/7
EDR
158/8
East Delhi Riders beat West Delhi Lions by 2 runs
SDS
–
NDT
–
NDS
–
WDL
–
CRO
111/4
CYP
134/4
Cyprus beat Croatia by 23 runs
CRO
103/4
CYP
102/8
Croatia beat Cyprus by 6 wickets
CRO
107/4
CYP
110/2
Cyprus won by 8 wickets
ZGW
–
ZAS
–
ZAS
–
RJM
–
ZGW
–
ZGA
–
ZAS
–
RJM
–
ZGW
–
ZGA
–
KENT
238/8
DURH
239/3
Durham beat Kent by 7 wickets
SOM
250/7
LAN
254/8
Lancashire beat Somerset by 2 wickets
MID
256/5
SUSS
255/9
Middlesex beat Sussex by 5 wickets
DER
341/8
NOT
214/10
Derbyshire beat Nottinghamshire by 127 runs
BB
291/8
NOR
229/10
Birmingham Bears won by 62 runs
GLO
182/3
LEI
285/7
ESS
280/10
WOR
340/9
Worcestershire beat Essex by 60 runs
91YC
70/9
BCC
20/0
Bud Cricket Club beat 91 Yards Club by 10 wickets (D/L) method
NAJC
119/10
GUG
121/7
Guwahati Giants beat Nabajyoti Club by 3 wickets
CCC
–
91YC
–
NVR
–
GUG
–
TCC
117/8
SBSCC
–
NCMI
–
PCR
–
CEC-A
–
RTZ
–
KRMPS
–
GUJCC
–
JOR
47/10
PRK
49/5
Perak beat Johor by 5 wickets
MEL
107/8
PENG
111/4
Penang beat Melaka by 6 wickets
SEL
76/1
KLPR
141/1
Selangor beat Kuala Lumpur by 9 wickets (D/L) method
GBM
–
MGD
–
BNB
–
MYW
–
MWW
96/7
HTW
107/10
Hubli Tigers Women beat Mysore Warriors Women by 11 runs
NPB
196/4
EAE
144/10
NPL Bears beat Eavion Eagles by 52 runs
PAJ
173/8
PMW
197/6
Pupkewitz Motors Wildcats beat Paratus Jets by 24 runs
IRE-W
–
PAK-W
–
WI
–
PAK
31/0
SLGY
163/6
SLGR
165/5
SLC Greens won by 5 wickets
SLGR
–
SLBL
–
AUS
178/10
SA
161/9
Australia beat South Africa by 17 runs
SOB
109/1
BIP
106/7
Southern Brave won by 9 wickets
TRR
–
NOS
81/4
MAO
–
LOS
–
SBW-W
139/7
BIP-W
124/10
Southern Brave Women beat Birmingham Phoenix Women by 15 runs
TRW-W
128/8
NOS-W
129/2
Northern Superchargers Women beat Trent Rockets Women by 8 wickets
MOW-W
–
LSW-W
–
SWE
152/7
FRA
153/8
France beat Sweden by 2 wickets
AUST
106/2
NOR
105/10
Austria won by 8 wickets
Tim David didn’t stop there. He kept on taking the bowlers to the cleaners along with Cameron Green at the other end. Once Green was dismissed, David took the onus upon himself. He channelled all his focus on attacking bad deliveries and hitting the good ones for a single. One advantage that the Australians are focusing on developing is a very deep batting order. Glenn Maxwell came in to bat at No. 7, which indicates the batting depth that they possess. Along with the depth, they also have a good set of all-rounders who can propel them towards healthy totals.
Australia could gather 178 runs from their 20 overs, a score they would gladly accept considering the position they were in. Tim David made it happen by staying out there almost till the end, guiding them past the 170-run mark. Additionally, his inning consisted four boundaries and eight sixes. His 83 came at a blistering strike-rate of almost 160.
After his return from injury, the pinch-hitter from Royal Challengers Bengaluru hasn’t looked back. In the third T20I against the West Indies in July 2025, David scored an unbelievable century to pull off a 200+ run-chase for the Australians. Shai Hope scored a 102 off 57 deliveries to take the West Indies to an above-par 214/4. The Australian hitter got to the same number of runs as his counterpart, but with 20 deliveries to spare. His 102 came off just 37 deliveries, in a wonderful display of power-hitting.
In his last three T20I innings, David has registered two scores in excess of 50, including the tremendous century which he scored against the Windies. Moreover, the 30 which he scored in the fifth and final T20I also came off just 12 balls, with a thundering strike-rate of 250. The approach that the Australians are trying to take in the shortest format might propel David to seal his spot in the XI. With performances like these, he will also be one of the first names discussed for retention in the IPL 2026.
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Though range-hitting is bolstered by power, it contains a technical leg to it. The bat swing has to be optimal for the connection to make an impact. Tim David thrives on getting into great positions to be able to hit the long ball. However, he might have to spend a while to work on his defence. In the new day and age, defence is an aspect which is losing its beauty. The game has become fast-paced and the format demands it to be played in a certain way.
One of the aspects of range hitting which is often not spoken about is a strong core. To be able to generate that amount of power requires an extremely strong core. Tim David seems to have worked a lot on his fitness along with the injury aspect which kept him away from the game. The defending champions of the IPL will surely be watching him from close quarters. If he can carry the same form into the next edition of the coveted trophy, the franchise will be rest assured about their firepower at the death.
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Australia A Women beat India A Women by 4 runs