IPL 2025: Why Tim David is not included in RCB XI against PBKS in Qualifier 1

Tim David, who suffered a hamstring injury during the game against SRH, was expected to be fit for Qualifier 1.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) are taking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Qualifier 1 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The game between the two teams is taking place at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Chandigarh. 

RCB skipper Rajat Patidar won the toss and opted to field first. In what was a piece of good news for the franchise, premier pacer Josh Hazlewood was back in the XI. However, there was no positive development on the Australian all-rounder Tim David, who missed the last game as well. 

Tim David, who suffered a hamstring injury during the game against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), was expected to be fit for Qualifier 1. But that hasn’t been the case as he wasn’t named in the RCB XI for the all-important clash against PBKS in Chandigarh. 

Tim David wasn’t declared fit for the last game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). But stand-in skipper Jitesh Sharma mentioned at the toss, during that game, that the all-rounder will be fit for Qualifier 1. However, it now seems that the lanky Australian is yet to regain his full fitness. 

Tim David, who clutched his hamstring while fielding against SRH, has played a huge role in RCB’s success this season. The all-rounder has played brutal cameos down the order and has also been electric in the field. Hence, his exclusion from the match could prove to be a big blow for the franchise.

Coming to the ongoing game against PBKS, RCB made one change to their XI with Josh Hazlewood replacing Nuwan Thushara in the team. They registered a convincing win over LSG in their previous match and will hope to carry the same confidence into Qualifier 1 as well. 

Playing XI of PBKS and RCB for Qualifier 1 

Punjab Kings: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Josh Inglis(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Kyle Jamieson 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Philip Salt, Rajat Patidar(c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma(w), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma

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