Overview

• Ravichandran Ashwin said he warned several IPL decision makers to draft Tim David before the 2025 mega auction but was told the Australian’s game had declined.
• Tim David went unsold at higher bids after being released by Mumbai Indians, with Sunrisers Hyderabad dropping out early, allowing Royal Challengers Bengaluru to sign him at the INR 3 crore base price.
• In IPL 2025, David scored 187 runs at an average of 62.33 and a strike rate of 185.15 in a finisher’s role, contributing to RCB’s maiden title triumph.
• He maintained that form for Australia, tallying 265 runs in five T20Is at a strike rate above 212 and recording his first international T20 century.
• The episode has prompted renewed debate over franchise valuation practices and underscored a shift toward favoring tall, powerful batters in T20 auctions.