“I watch a lot of cricket,” Tim David says with a smile – and he was not talking about watching on TV. During last five years, David played 247 T20 matches worldwide, and only two players Nicholas Pooran and Rashid Khan have played more matches than him, but 27 batters have faced more balls. He is best at one of the unique position in the sports globally, which is ‘The T20 Finisher’
David only play almost ten balls in every match, however if everything works smoothly for his team, then he don’t play any ball.
“In most games I play in, I watch the first ten overs from the changing rooms, then five overs from the dugout,” he explains. The longest innings that he played in IPL included 24 balls, which is only 20% of a T20 innings. David never played as a bowler in the IPL.
However his assistance remained highly required. David is always paid by a handsome amount for his work while playing T20s for different 18 teams. During the last November’s auction got him with 64% pay cut. He has been playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru as a batsman for more than three weeks in IPL 2025, it is obvious that why teams give him importance. He only played 27 balls and hit five of balls for six.
“It’s about managing expectations,” David said, sitting on the top floor of a Mumbai hotel. “When you’re batting in my role, you don’t get a go in every game.” The Impact Player rule exacerbates that in the IPL: “It marginalises my role. I’ve gone from batting No. 6 in other teams – and higher if you have a good start – to No. 7 or 8. I almost just bat in the last couple of overs.”
David always gives importance to his training routine. “I’ve got to get a lot of volume in,” he says. “I don’t expect to get that in games, and you’ve got to be ready to take risks straightaway.”
“I love it. Training is so much fun: I get to go and hang out with my mates and have a hit for way too long.”
In India, David has got experience by working with two of superb T20Is finishers. He practiced for three years under the supervision of Kieron Pollard at Mumbai Indians, whose imposing physique he shares. Now he is working with RCB’S Dinesh Karthik and getting more experience. “They are different styles of players and different people, but there’s a wealth of knowledge from both sides.”
“But they can’t just tell you things and then you automatically do it. You have to go through it, own the mistakes yourself and come out the other side. It’s an interesting role that I play, but when you’re in a good headspace, it’s a lot easier, because you don’t judge yourself so harshly… Sometimes, the harder you try, the more frustrating it is.”
“It’s an interesting role that I play, but when you’re in a good headspace, it’s a lot easier, because you don’t judge yourself so harshly.” David further said.
