Tim David still working on 'cracking the code' for success at Chinnaswamy Stadium

Tim David's valiant half-century stood out in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) underwhelming total of 95 for 9 in their 14-over contest against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Friday night. Coming in at No. 7, David smashed an unbeaten 50 off just 26 balls, nearly single-handedly saving RCB from a total collapse in what turned out to be their third straight home defeat of IPL 2025.

Despite the pressure and tricky conditions, David looked assured at the crease from the outset. "From ball one, he was on top of his game," said Cheteshwar Pujara on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show. David, however, admitted that he's still working on how best to adapt to the conditions at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

“It didn’t feel easy out there,” he said post-match. “The top-order guys pass down information about the pitch, and I try to build my approach around that. The practice pitches have been similar to the main ones, and I’m still trying to figure out the best method to bat in these conditions.”

David walked in with the score at 33 for 5 and immediately made his presence felt with a boundary off his first ball. He struck five fours and three sixes—three of them in succession in the final over from Harpreet Brar—and was the lone RCB batter to show composure under pressure. His 21-run partnership with Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the only meaningful stand of the innings.

Ambati Rayudu praised David's calculated aggression: “It was a brilliant knock under pressure. He paced the innings beautifully. If he had support, RCB could’ve been looking at 120 or 130.”

The 26 deliveries David faced were the most in his IPL career—surpassing the 24-ball knock he played for Mumbai Indians in 2024—thanks to a rare opportunity that arose from RCB’s early collapse.

Reflecting on his role and the match situation, David said, “It was hard to get clarity in the middle, especially since one more wicket would’ve ended the innings. So I had to manage risk carefully. I’m happy with how I played, but I’d rather be sitting back with a win and a drink."

David also acknowledged the team’s inconsistent home form. “The challenge has been the variety of conditions we've faced at Chinnaswamy. Tonight, the rain and covers made the pitch unpredictable. We haven’t quite figured out a winning formula at home yet.”

Despite the loss, David’s effort earned him the Player-of-the-Match award, and he set a new IPL record for the lowest first-innings total (95) to feature a half-century—surpassing Virat Kohli’s 56 in a total of 106 for 2 back in 2013.

As RCB continue to search for answers, David remains a key positive—and one still trying to unlock the secret to consistent success at their fortress.

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