A storm is brewing on social media following Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) dramatic last-ball victory over the Mumbai Indians (MI) in Raipur.
A viral video circulating on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram allegedly shows RCB power-hitter Tim David making an offensive middle-finger gesture from the dugout. The clip has ignited a fierce debate among fans, with many speculating that the Australian batter who spent three seasons with MI before joining RCB in 2025 was expressing his frustration toward his former franchise.
The incident reportedly took place in the heat of the final over as RCB chased down a target of 167 in a high-stakes encounter that officially knocked Mumbai Indians out of the IPL 2026 playoff race. While David himself struggled on the field, falling for a first-ball duck to Corbin Bosch, the tensions in the dugout reached a boiling point during the frantic finish. The unverified footage appears to show David reacting after a pivotal moment in the match, though neither the player nor the RCB management has commented on the authenticity of the clip.
RCB Move Top as MI Face Elimination
While the off-field controversy grabbed headlines, the match itself was a certified “Raipur Classic.” Despite Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s lethal opening spell (4/23), MI managed to post 166/7 thanks to gritty half-centuries from Tilak Varma and Naman Dhir. RCB’s chase looked shaky at 39/3 after Virat Kohli was dismissed for a duck, but Krunal Pandya played the innings of a lifetime, scoring a courageous 73 off 46 balls despite battling severe cramps.
The final over was a masterclass in nerve, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar smashing a crucial six and Rasikh Salam scrambling for the winning runs to secure a two-wicket victory. The win propelled the defending champions to the top of the IPL 2026 points table, while condemning MI to their eighth loss of the season.
As the unverified video of Tim David continues to fuel “bad blood” narratives online, IPL officials are expected to review the footage to determine if any disciplinary action is required for a breach of the Code of Conduct.