Tim David continues to prove he is built for impact hitting. Across 52 IPL matches, the Australian has cleared the ropes 69 times—more than his 58 fours. In IPL 2026, he has faced only 35 deliveries and already has nine sixes, with eight of them arriving on Sunday at Bengaluru in a spell that unfolded over just 17 balls—an astonishing run of power that left even the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bowlers, and the crowd at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, stunned.
David’s whirlwind: how RCB turned the innings
When David walked out, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were scoring at 10.70 runs per over. Rajat Patidar was striking the ball with authority, giving David the space to settle rather than rush. He took four balls to open his account, and then, on the second delivery of the 17th over, he and Patidar converted a moment into momentum by pinching a bye.
At that point, RCB were 174 for 3 after 16.2 overs. David was on 3 off 6 balls, while Patidar had 40 off 15. The next time Patidar faced the strike, the chase exploded: the score raced to 237 for 3 after 19 overs. David had advanced to 65 off 23, and the atmosphere in the Chinnaswamy stands had turned into a celebration.
Over the course of those 17 balls, David smashed eight sixes and also struck two fours. The swing was so dramatic that a total which briefly looked like it might stay around the 220 mark instead climbed to 250. CSK were left “shell-shocked,” as the late acceleration fully flipped the contest.
CSK’s view: the acceleration that changed everything
CSK head coach Stephen Fleming pinpointed the phase where the match slipped away. He said the defining moment was David’s acceleration during the final stretch of the innings, explaining that CSK had been ahead for much of the contest until roughly the last five overs.
- Fleming noted that up to about five overs remaining, CSK had the upper hand—he referenced a situation after 15 overs with CSK at 165 for 6 and RCB at 153 for 3.
- From there, he said RCB “just went like a rocket,” describing it as the point where the game was essentially lost.
- Before that burst, Fleming felt the contest had been relatively balanced.
Key moments: Kamboj’s yorker, the free hit, and a roof-bothering six
Even with RCB’s late surge, CSK had a moment that could have changed the outcome. In the 18th over, Anshul Kamboj got the better of David with a yorker that struck and shattered his leg stump. David received a fist bump from Kamboj during the celebration, and shortly after, the stadium siren sounded—Kamboj had overstepped.
David then faced the free hit and struck a six over long-on. He followed that by taking 30 runs off Jamie Overton’s third over, with the sequence reading 6, 2, 4, 6, 6, 6. The second six of the over carried him to his fifty from 21 balls. His final hit of that over was launched over deep midwicket and onto the roof, landing an estimated 106 metres away.
After the shot, David looked toward the dressing room and flexed his muscles. Virat Kohli was seen out of his chair, and the Chinnaswamy crowd erupted.
David on the six: training roof targets and match-day fun
Speaking about the shot, David said he had been getting into trouble during training with the other players. He explained that they run competitions to try to hit the ball up to the roof, particularly while working from the side pitches, and that hitting one during a match out of the middle—then clearing the roof—was simply enjoyable.
Impact finish and the bigger picture behind the power
David closed the innings with 70 not out off 25 balls. Of those runs, 68 came in the death overs—an IPL record for any batter. He also underlined that it doesn’t always go that way, while stressing the role played by his captain, Rajat, who was hitting the ball “absolutely smoking” and feeding David deliveries during the final phase.
- David’s 70* came from 25 balls, with 68 runs arriving in the death overs.
- He said it was “super, super fun” to help reach the target and apply pressure late.
- He credited the skipper Rajat’s hitting, describing how he was taking balls off him and then converting that support into acceleration.
Looking back at his recent IPL output, David was sixth on the list of most sixes in 2025, with 94 maximums in 46 innings. In IPL, he also struck 14 sixes off 101 balls in his role as a finisher—one that he believes was crucial in helping RCB secure their first championship.
Why the finishing works: prep, mentorship, and managing pressure
Beyond the six-hitting theatrics, David pointed to preparation. He said a significant part of the work happens before matches and that he is fortunate to train with Dinesh Karthik (DK), whose experience in these conditions helps the group refine skills. David also spoke about keeping the fundamentals that build strength, while continuing to improve over time. He added that with multiple IPL seasons behind him, the extra preparation and time reduces the pressure to perform.
He further explained that on good days he tries to enjoy the process, while bad days are part of the game too. He emphasized that the approach becomes even more relevant when the side commits to high-risk, attacking cricket.
Team-mates’ praise: technique clarity and self-belief
David’s finishing has earned admiration from within RCB. His captain has described him as “one of the best finishers I’ve ever seen,” and Devdutt Padikkal highlighted the confidence and clarity David brings when he walks in.
- Padikkal said David is highly confident about both his technique and the specific areas he wants to attack.
- He explained that David is clear about which bowler to target and where to hit.
- Padikkal added that when those plans and that mental clarity are in place, it becomes easier to execute under pressure.
- He also remarked that while he wishes he could hit anywhere close to David’s level, studying David’s technique shows that self-belief—and the confidence to commit from ball one—can spread across the team.
Injury setbacks and a strange message from Chinnaswamy’s roof
David’s last four months and change have not been easy. He was ruled out of the Big Bash League in late December due to a hamstring injury. Although he recovered in time for the 2026 T20 World Cup, he managed only scores of 0 and 6 in the two innings he batted at No. 4 as Australia were eliminated during the group stage.
Still, if anyone believed David might have arrived in the IPL undercooked, he suggested the evidence might be waiting in Bengaluru—pointing to a ball lodged on the roof of Chinnaswamy as proof that his power was very much ready.
