Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) slumped to their third consecutive home defeat in IPL 2025 despite a powerful 50* off 26 balls from Tim David. The Australian all-rounder was the lone warrior in RCB’s innings of 95/9 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday.
David Shines Amid Top-Order Collapse
Coming in at No. 7 with the scoreboard reading 33/5, David counter-attacked from the very first delivery, hitting Marco Jansen for a boundary. He went on to smash five fours and three sixes, including three consecutive maximums in the final over. His 26-ball fifty was the only bright spot for RCB, who ended with their lowest home total this season.
Despite walking in during a crisis, David managed to anchor the innings and accelerate at the death, becoming the first IPL player to score a half-century in a sub-100 team total.
Trying to Crack the Chinnaswamy Code
After the game, David admitted that he is still figuring out how to bat effectively on the Chinnaswamy pitch.
“The practice pitches have been similar. I’m trying to figure out a method of how to bat best in those conditions,” he said.
He added that unpredictable conditions and frequent rain interruptions have made it harder to develop a consistent strategy at home.
Support Missing in RCB Lineup
Former players like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ambati Rayudu praised David’s composure, with Pujara noting that David appeared well-prepared and clear-headed. Rayudu echoed the sentiment, saying if David had a reliable partner, RCB could have posted 120 or more.
David himself emphasized the lack of support, stating, “It was difficult to get clarity out in the middle. We had to manage the risk because we were one wicket away from ending the innings.”
RCB’s Home Form Remains a Concern
Despite David’s Player of the Match performance, RCB’s woes at Chinnaswamy continue. With just 95 on the board and little support from the top and middle order, the team failed to find momentum once again.
RCB will need to regroup quickly and find a winning formula at home if they are to stay in playoff contention.
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