IPL 2026: Tim David’s viral gesture after RCB’s win over MI in Raipur sparks debate

Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Tim David has found himself at the centre of attention after his reaction following his team’s thrilling victory over Mumbai Indians went viral on social media. RCB defeated MI by two wickets in a last-ball thriller during Match 54 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, a result that also knocked Mumbai out of the playoff race.

A video circulating online appeared to show David making a middle-finger gesture moments after Bengaluru sealed the dramatic win. The Australian batter, who previously represented MI for three seasons before being picked up by RCB during the 2025 mega-auction, has become an important member of Bengaluru’s batting lineup. However, he endured a disappointing outing against his former side after being dismissed for a first-ball duck.

The match reached a dramatic climax as RCB required 15 runs in the final over. Mumbai seemed to have one hand on the game after the dismissal of Romario Shepherd. However, veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar turned the game around with a crucial six before Rasikh Salam Dar completed the winning runs on the final delivery.

The RCB dugout erupted in celebration, and fans speculated that David’s controversial gesture came immediately after the victory was secured. It remains unclear whether the IPL will take any disciplinary action against the Australian star for his celebration.

Earlier in the contest, MI posted 166/6 after being put in to bat first. Naman Dhir and Tilak Varma led the scoring with knocks of 47 and 57 respectively, while the rest of the batting lineup struggled against Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who delivered another brilliant spell by taking four wickets for 23 runs.

In reply, RCB chased down the target in nerve-wracking fashion on the final ball of the innings. While Rasikh Salam Dar finished the game, it was Krunal Pandya who laid the foundation for the remarkable chase. Battling cramps and visible fatigue, the all-rounder produced a match-winning 73 off 46 balls to keep Bengaluru alive in the contest despite the early dismissals of Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar. The victory propelled RCB to the top of the IPL 2026 points table, while MI’s defeat officially ended their hopes of reaching the playoffs.