3 players who will play for RCB in IPL 2025 after being at MI in 2024 ft. Tim David
Two of the most popular franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI) purchased some quality players in the recently concluded auction.
Many players who played for both sides in the last season went under the hammer in the IPL 2025 auction after being released.
Interestingly, MI owner Akash Ambani went to shake hands with the RCB team camp after they chose not to use the RTM card on batter Will Jacks. As a result, Jacks will now play for MI in the upcoming season.
Likewise, RCB were also able to secure the services of multiple players, who played for MI in 2024. Let's check out those players set to don the RCB jersey in the 2025 season.
#1 Tim David
Tim David made his IPL debut in 2021 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. However, he got to play only a solitary game that season. The finisher then joined the Mumbai Indians camp in the 2022 season.
David had an impressive season, where he slammed 186 runs at an average of 37.20 and a strike rate of 216.27. His next two seasons saw him garner 472 runs across 26 innings at a strike rate of around 158. He certainly did well for the franchise but failed to leave an impact that was expected from him.
As a result, he was released from MI and did not find interest from them either in the auction.
Instead, RCB bought Tim David for an amount of ₹3 crore for the 2025 season. It will be interesting to see if David can turn tormentor for the opposition in a small ground like M Chinnaswamy.
#2 Nuwan Thushara
Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Thushara made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians last year. He scalped eight wickets in seven games at an economy of 9.88. His best figures of 3/28 came against Lucknow Super Giants. However, the right-arm pacer could not be potent enough to impress the MI management.
In a short bidding war between multiple teams, RCB won the winning bid with a price of ₹1.60 crore to secure the services of Thushara at the auction.
The 32-year-old did well for Sri Lanka in the recent T20I series against New Zealand with the new ball and change-ups in the death overs. However, he has been mediocre in the ongoing Abu Dhabi T10 League with five wickets in six appearances.
#3 Romario Shepherd
Caribbean bowling all-rounder Romario Shepherd made his IPL debut in 2022 for Sunrisers Hyderabad. He then played a solitary season for Lucknow Super Giants in the 2023 season.
Shepherd was forced to again switch sides in the IPL 2024, where he represented Mumbai Indians. He displayed his ability to provide a fine flourish to the side in his first appearance against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
As a result, Shepherd was used as an Impact Player by MI against Delhi Capitals. The right-hander displayed his hitting prowess to stun Anrich Nortje and slammed 32 runs off his over. He finished with a knock of 39* off 10 as Mumbai posted 234 and won by 29 runs. However, he was not retained by the franchise.
RCB bought him for his base price of ₹1.50 crore and will hope he can create wonders with the bat and pick up some wickets as well.