IPL 2021 | Who is the new RCB recruit Tim David?

Announcing ring of changes in their squad and leadership group before the second part of this year’s edition of the Indian Premier League, the Royal Challengers Bangalore are now looking like a squad with tremendous depth. Amongst several changes that the franchise announced, one that particularly caught the eye was where they replaced the explosive New Zealand batsman Fin Allen with Singaporean Tim David.

David was born on March 16, 1996, in Singapore and later migrated to Australia to shape his cricketing career. He represented many junior-level sides such as the Western Australian U-23s and Western Australian XI before making his way to the Big Bash League.

He made his Big Bash debut for the Perth Scorchers in the 2017 edition of the competition and has been a force to reckon with the Western Australian side. Later, he was drafted by the Hobart Hurricanes before the 2020 edition of the league and he announced his arrival in grand style with a 32-ball 58 in the very first appearance for the Tasmania-based side.

He has amassed 388 runs from 26 Big Bash games at a staggering strike rate of 148.09 and 19 sixes. He has been known for his brute force and the ability to change the momentum of a game in a short time. 

Historically, he has the third-best strike rate in the history of T20 cricket across the league, franchise and international cricket after Ravija Sanduwaran of Kuwait and Glenn Maxwell of Australia.

He has not given up on his international career and continues to represent Singapore at the world level. 

The Royal Challengers Bangalore would be hopeful for his counter-attacking innings in the second half of the IPL this year.

Mike Hesson, who also took over as the head coach of the Virat Kohli-led side after the resignation of Simon Katich, also highlighted what the franchise expects of him in the tournament. He said that the team is looking up to David to fill the big boots of AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell with his power-hitting in case they suffer any injury concerns. He added that the inclusion of David has been done with an idea of strengthening the middle order.

He is coming off a great run of form in the Royal London ODI Cup in England where he scored two centuries and the RCB would be desperate to see him going great guns with the bat in the middle order come September 20 when they are slated to face the Kolkata Knight Riders.