Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are all set to face Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in a crucial Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 clash at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, May 27. If Rajat Patidar and Co. win on Tuesday, they will punch their ticket to Qualifier 1, where they will face Punjab Kings. However, a defeat against Lucknow will force them to play the Eliminator against the Mumbai Indians.
Aakash Chopra said that Josh Hazlewood’s return is a massive boost for the team, as his absence was felt in the last couple of matches. However, the former India batter feels that Tim David, who suffered a hamstring injury in the last game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, could miss the all-important clash, and that would put openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli under a lot of pressure.
“The good news for RCB is that Josh Hazlewood has returned. They must be feeling very nice because josh (enthusiasm) returns because of Josh Hazlewood returning. It seemed like the bowling had collapsed. They conceded 200 runs in the last two games. One man was missing and the world looked a very different place. So he has returned now,” Chopra said on his official YouTube channel.
“However, the bad thing is that there is no update on Tim David. No one is telling anything. He might not be there, and if he is not there, there will be a lot of pressure on the openers. Let’s be fair, they have consistently been playing well. Phil Salt and Virat Kohli are complementing each other and scoring runs consistently,” he added.
David hurt his hamstring while fielding against Hyderabad and had to leave the field to receive treatment. He came out to bat in the second innings but did not look comfortable at all.
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Jacob Bethell and Lungi Ngidi have left the RCB camp for national duties. Tim Seifert and Liam Livingstone are the options RCB can consider if David fails to recover in time.
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Chopra wondered whether RCB would use Seifert, a top-order batter, in a finisher’s role if he steps in for David. The cricketer-turned-commentator feels that the New Zealand wicketkeeper could also bat at No. 3 and Manoj Bhandage could bat in the lower order, coming into the side in place of Mayank Agarwal.
“I think Jacob Bethell has already left, and Tim Seifert has come in his place. However, Tim Seifert is an opener. Will you make him bat down the order in case Tim David is not there? Otherwise, you can keep Tim Seifert at No. 3. Now that’s an interesting thought process,” Chopra said.
