Ravichandran Ashwin reveals he told a few IPL teams to pick Australian batter in IPL 2025 mega auction

Chennai Super Kings’ veteran off-spinner has revealed that he urged a few IPL teams to pick hard-hitting Australian Tim David in the previous season’s mega-auction. David was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for ₹3 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction, which was a steal deal.

The right-hander scored 187 runs in nine innings of IPL 2025 at an average of 62.33 and a blistering strike rate of 185.15. Ergo, the lanky batter played an instrumental role in RCB’s maiden title run in the tournament.

Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube Channel, “I shouldn’t say this but I told the decision makers of a few IPL teams to pick him before the last auction. They all said, ‘No, his game has dropped off drastically ‘. I believe the future of T20 cricket is going to be having tall batters with long lovers and strong build. They are going to rule the roost if there are no changes brought to the wide line.”

“A player RCB picked up at base price (₹3 crore) has taken his game to the next level. It’s good to see Australia sending him up the order. A real steal for RCB.”

David is currently the highest run-getter in the T20I series against South Africa as he has amassed 133 runs in two matches at an average of 66.50 and a strike rate of 175. The right-hander scored 83 runs off just 52 balls in the opening T20I, whereas he scored 50 runs off 24 balls in the second game.

Meanwhile, Ashwin reckons South Africa and Australia will challenge India at the T20 World Cup 2026.

“Daniel Vettori, along with Travis Head, has transformed Australia’s approach in T20 similar to that of SRH. I feel South Africa and Australia will be the two teams who’ll challenge India the most in next year’s T20 World Cup,” said Ashwin (via the aforementioned source).

India had won the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies after beating South Africa by seven runs in the final.