Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Australia’s Tim David achieved a major IPL milestone, becoming the second-fastest player to reach 1,000 runs during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s clash with Delhi Capitals at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. He got there in just 560 balls, second only to Andre Russell. David scored a quick 26 off 17 balls in the match and has now accumulated over 1,000 runs at an impressive strike rate of 177.83. This season, he has been in outstanding form, scoring 173 runs in six innings at an average of 86.50 and a strike rate above 200.
Despite David’s achievement, RCB ended up on the losing side. Batting first, they posted 175/8 after a promising start. Phil Salt led the charge with a well-made 63, while Virat Kohli contributed 19 in a 52-run opening stand. However, RCB struggled to maintain momentum in the middle and death overs. After reaching 99/2 in 10 overs, they managed only 76 runs in the final 10 overs. Delhi’s bowlers, especially Axar Patel (2/18) and Kuldeep Yadav (2/32), applied the brakes effectively, while Lungi Ngidi also chipped in with two wickets.Chasing 176 on a slightly slow surface, Delhi Capitals had a shaky start, losing three wickets for just 18 runs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was outstanding early on, picking up three wickets and exploiting swing. However, KL Rahul steadied the innings with a composed 57 off 34 balls, combining elegance with control. He shared a crucial 69-run partnership with Tristan Stubbs, who went on to score an unbeaten 60.After Rahul’s dismissal, Stubbs continued to anchor the chase, adding another important stand with Axar Patel, who contributed 24 before retiring hurt. With 45 needed off the last 25 balls, the match was still in the balance. That’s when David Miller stepped up, smashing two sixes in the final over to seal a six-wicket win with one ball to spare.The victory ended Delhi’s two-match losing streak and highlighted their resilience, while RCB were left to reflect on missed opportunities despite Tim David’s milestone.
