Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed that he had long spotted the potential of Australian power-hitter Tim David — and even warned several IPL franchises to keep an eye on him ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. But, in a twist that now looks costly for many teams, Ashwin’s advice was ignored, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ended up making what could go down as one of the biggest bargain buys in IPL history.

Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube channel, disclosed that he had advised a few teams, possibly including Chennai Super Kings (CSK), to target David. However, decision-makers dismissed the idea, claiming David’s form had dropped significantly. “I shouldn’t say this, but I told the decision-makers to pick him before the last auction. They said his game had dropped off drastically. I believe the future of T20 cricket will be dominated by tall batters with long levers and strong builds — unless the wide line rules change,” Ashwin said.

At the IPL 2025 mega auction, the Mumbai Indians surprisingly released Tim David, opening the door for other franchises. When his name came up, there was no aggressive bidding war — just a brief challenge from Sunrisers Hyderabad, who backed out early. RCB seized the moment and secured David’s services for just ₹3 crore.

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That gamble paid off spectacularly. Slotting into the finisher’s role, David scored 187 runs at a remarkable average of 62.33 and an explosive strike rate of 185.15, playing several match-defining cameos under pressure. His presence added the extra firepower RCB needed, ultimately guiding them to the IPL 2025 title.

Ravichandran Ashwin lauded RCB for their shrewd acquisition. “A player RCB picked at base price has taken his game to the next level. It’s good to see Australia sending him up the order. A real steal for RCB,” he said.

David’s red-hot form wasn’t just limited to the IPL. For Australia in 2025, he smashed 265 runs in just five T20Is at a staggering strike rate of 212.00, including his maiden T20I century against the West Indies. His performances even convinced the Australian management to promote him higher in the batting order for the South Africa series.

One of his standout knocks came in Darwin, where David scored a composed yet dominant 83 off 53 balls, leading Australia to a 17-run win over South Africa. Awarded Player of the Match, David credited the team’s attacking mindset: “We’ve been playing together for a while, so there’s not much instruction from coaches. They trust us to make decisions on the fly — that’s T20 cricket. You’ll see that a lot from us because that’s how we think we play best.”

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With Ashwin’s foresight now vindicated, and Tim David’s stock skyrocketing, IPL franchises may be kicking themselves for not heeding the veteran’s advice. For RCB, however, it’s a masterstroke that could define their success for years to come.