Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Tim David has picked up two demerit points for a level-one code-of-conduct breach during Sunday night’s win over Mumbai Indians in Raipur. One further point and the big-hitting right-hander will have to sit out a match – hardly ideal in the run-in to the play-offs.
According to the IPL release, David was also docked 30 per cent of his match fee for, and here’s the wording, “using a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting”. Match referee Amit Sharma handed down the sanction, and David accepted it on the spot – no appeal, no fuss.
He is not alone in the naughty corner. Head coach Andy Flower copped a 15 per-cent fine after the same fixture for the “use of an audible obscenity”. A separate note from the league added that the incident occurred “when Andy spoke aggressively with the fourth umpire.” Flower, too, took the rap straight away.
Former India seamer Ajit Agarkar reckons the penalties won’t derail RCB. “The points are annoying, but they’ve still got their best XI available,” he told Star Sports. “If David behaves, he plays.”
The win over MI pushed Bengaluru to 14 points from 11 games, level with Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans, although the holders retain the healthier net run-rate. A one-game ban for David would shuffle the batting order, but with form and momentum finally on their side, RCB will feel they can manage – provided discipline holds.
