Tim David’s Heroic 50 in Vain as RCB Suffers Third Straight Home Loss to PBKS
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) slumped to their third consecutive home defeat in IPL 2025, falling to Punjab Kings (PBKS) by five wickets at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium despite a valiant half-century from Tim David. David’s blistering 50 off just 26 balls, punctuated by five fours and three consecutive sixes in the final over, proved insufficient to lift RCB from a precarious 95 for 9 in their allotted 14 overs. The match, affected by rain, saw RCB struggle to find their footing against a disciplined PBKS bowling attack. David’s knock, however, was a shining light in an otherwise dismal performance, earning him the Player-of-the-Match award, a rare accolade for a player on the losing side.
Walking in at number seven with RCB reeling at 33 for 5, David injected much-needed momentum into the innings. His calculated aggression and clean striking brought a semblance of respectability to the total. David’s 26 balls faced marked his longest innings in the IPL, surpassing his previous best of 24 balls for Mumbai Indians in 2024. He forged a crucial 21-run partnership with Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the eighth wicket and expertly manipulated the strike in the latter stages of the innings.
“It didn’t feel so easy [to score quickly in those circumstances],” David admitted post-match. “I’m still trying to figure out a method to bat best in these conditions here. It’s been challenging — with rain today and pitches playing differently every game — but I’m learning.”
David’s performance garnered praise from commentators, with Cheteshwar Pujara noting his clarity and composure under pressure. “It looked like he had a clear game plan,” Pujara observed on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show. “When you have clarity, it becomes easier. I’m sure this will boost his confidence.” Ambati Rayudu echoed the sentiment, adding, “He paced the innings beautifully. If he had a partner, RCB could’ve posted 120 or 130.”
The knock also etched David’s name in the IPL record books, as it became the highest individual score in the lowest completed team innings to include a half-century, surpassing Virat Kohli’s 56 in a total of 106 for 2 in a rain-affected eight-over game in 2013.
RCB’s continued struggles at home remain a significant concern. The varying pitch conditions and inconsistent team performances have hampered their efforts to establish a winning formula at the Chinnaswamy. “We haven’t played well at home,” David acknowledged. “We need to find a template to win here. Tonight was tough — rain, undercovers — it’s difficult to get clarity on how the pitch will play.”
While David’s impressive innings offered a glimmer of hope, RCB’s playoff prospects have undoubtedly taken a hit. The powerful hitter will undoubtedly hope his next impactful performance contributes to a victory rather than serving as consolation in defeat.
