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Bengaluru, April 6: If there was ever a glimpse into Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s six-hitting surge this season, it came a day before their clash against Chennai Super Kings at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
During a routine practice session, once the top-order had wrapped up, the spotlight shifted to two of RCB’s most explosive hitters — Tim David and Romario Shepherd. What followed was less a net session and more a spectacle, as both batters launched ball after ball into and beyond the stands, drawing the attention of scattered onlookers across the venue. In a span of barely half an hour, the duo cleared the ropes repeatedly, underlining how power-hitting has evolved into a refined craft rather than mere brute force.
That preparation translated seamlessly into match day. David, fresh from those striking sessions, produced a blistering 70 off just 25 balls, smashing eight sixes — including one that sailed over the stadium roof — to earn the Player of the Match award. Reflecting on his knock, the Australian all-rounder admitted that such feats are now part of regular training, where players even challenge each other to target the roof during practice.
While David had Shepherd for company in the nets, it was skipper Rajat Patidar who partnered him during the match, as the duo plundered 97 runs in the final five overs — a phase that ultimately proved decisive. Even Patidar’s own six-hitting spree was overshadowed by David’s clean striking, which repeatedly targeted the ‘V’ region with remarkable precision.
Teammate Devdutt Padikkal credited David’s consistency to relentless practice, noting that the power-hitter approaches every delivery with the intent to clear the boundary — a mindset perfectly suited to his role in the middle order.
David’s innings was more than just a cameo; it marked a defining moment in his IPL journey, bringing him into sharper focus as a match-winner. With RCB boasting one of the best six-hitting rates in the tournament so far — nearly double the overall average — their aggressive approach has already set the tone early in the season.
Despite his name, there was nothing diminutive about David’s presence. On current form, he stands tall — not as David, but very much as a Goliath shaping RCB’s batting dominance. (Agencies)
