Australia, it seems, will rely on the experience of the three players, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Tim David, who will be very likely to be included in the provisional 15-man squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup despite the fact that there are worries regarding the fitness of the trio.

Of the three, Cummins is still the most uncertain player. The Australia captain hasn't been seen in the international arena since July when lumbar stress injury led to him being out of action. He first came back for the Adelaide Test during the Ashes and bowled with his usually high intensity but eventually the selectors decided to take no more risks and ruled him out for the rest of the series. Coach Andrew McDonald confirmed that in four weeks, Cummins would be given another scan on his back and that a final decision would be made at that point. For the moment, he is still a part of the team that will be sent in ahead of the ICC deadline.

Hazlewood and Tim David are on the right track as Australia gets ready for the T20 World Cup opener 

Josh Hazlewood's case seems to be more positive. The leading pacer could not take part in the Ashes series at all because of his hamstring and Achilles issues, but he has started to bowl again and is doing well on the recovery path. Hazlewood was excellent in the last T20 series against India and is still a key player in Australia’s powerplay and death overs strategies. The team management is confident that the timelines are in his favor on the road to the World Cup.

ALSO SEE: Bhutan Spinner Sonam Yeshey Makes History with Record Eight-Wicket Haul in T20Is

Middle-order enforcer Tim David is also racing against the clock. The 29-year-old sustained a grade-two right hamstring strain during his participation in the Big Bash League while playing for the Hobart Hurricanes, which has led to him being sidelined for the rest of the tournament. Nevertheless, his healing period gives hope to Australia that he will be ready for the world event.

Australia's World Cup journey starts on February 11 against Ireland, and then they face Zimbabwe, which gives room for some players to get extra days off if they need it for recovery. However, a three-match T20I series in Pakistan at the end of January will be the last preparation, even if it means several stars miss the BBL finals.

When Tim David left the field during the Hobart Hurricanes vs Perth Scorchers Big Bash League (BBL) match, it was an alarming sign for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans, as David is in their squad for the IPL 2026 season. RCB shared the latest updates on the Australian all-rounder's injury on December 27.

It was a BBL 2025-26 match between the Hobart Hurricanes and the Perth Scorchers. In the second innings of the match, the Scorchers were chasing a target of 151 runs. David came to bat at the number 5 position and provided much-required stability in the middle, for which the Perth-based franchise was gasping. They were already down by three men when David joined Nikhil Chaudhary. The partnership between Chaudhary and David helped the team to edge past the first 100-run mark.

David was named best player of the match for his 42-run knock off 28 deliveries. He had left the field because of some problem in his leg. Later, it was reported that it was a hamstring issue which forced him to leave the pitch. Although, before leaving the ground as retiring hurt, he did his job well. Perth Scorchers eventually won the match by 7 wickets in 19.3 overs. David's 42-run innings was laced with three boundaries and two over boundaries.

🚨It’s an Hamstring and reason why Tim David walked off the field was he didn’t wanted to make it worse

Means everything is fine ✔️
pic.twitter.com/wurQJnKc4F

— RCB (@RCBtweetzz) December 27, 2025

Read More: KKR IPL 2026 Ownership Update: Shah Rukh Khan set to acquire Mehta Group’s Shares in franchise

After the match, David himself informed us that because of extra precaution, he vacated the field. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) shared the part of David's interview with the caption, "It’s a hamstring, and the reason why Tim David walked off the field was he didn’t want to make it worse... Means everything is fine."

Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL 2026 Full Squad:

Retained Players

Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh, and Suyash Sharma.

Players Bought from IPL 2026 Auction

Venkatesh Iyer (7 cr), Mangesh Yadav (5.2 cr), Jacob Duffy (2 cr), Satwik Deswal (30 L), Jordan Cox (75 L), Vihaan Malhotra (30 L), Kanishk Chouhan (30 L), Vicky Ostwal (30 L)

Australian all-rounder Tim David is racing against time to regain fitness for the T20 World Cup 2026 and IPL 2026 after suffering a hamstring injury during a Big Bash League (BBL) match against Perth Scorchers on Friday, December 26.

David was batting on 42 off 28 balls when he hurt his hamstring while running between the wickets. The 29-year-old looked frustrated after the injury and walked off the field on the advice of the medical staff.

This is Tim David’s second hamstring injury this year. Earlier, he missed two months of cricket, including Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s strong playoff run in IPL 2025. The team did not rush his return, and he made his comeback in the T20I series against West Indies, where he played three of the five matches.

With the T20 World Cup less than 40 days away, Australia and Tim David cannot afford another long injury break. Hobart Hurricanes confirmed that David will undergo a scan on Saturday to assess the injury. His availability for the rest of the BBL season and the T20 World Cup 2026 will be decided after the results.

Also Read -Angkrish Raghuvanshi discharged from Jaipur hospital after a scary head injury in Mumbai vs Uttarakhand Vijay Hazare Trophy Match

Did his part in the chase before an untimely injury intervened. ❤️‍🩹

Wishing Tim David a smooth and speedy recovery. ❤️#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB pic.twitter.com/WXZv2cDsyc

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) December 26, 2025

Tim David Is in Great Form in T20 Cricket

Tim David was the only Hobart Hurricanes batter who looked comfortable during the tricky 151-run chase. He played a key role in the match and also won the Player of the Match award.

The year 2025 has been outstanding for David in T20 internationals, even though he missed several matches due to injury. He scored 395 runs in 10 innings at a remarkable strike rate of 197.5, including 36 sixes.

If Tim David misses the T20 World Cup 2026, it would be a huge blow for Australia. Speaking after the match, David explained his injury concern.

“I just felt a little bit of something when I was trying to come back for two. It’s not ideal, but I didn’t want to make it worse. I had full faith in the boys to get us home. We’ll wait and see,” David told Channel 7.

The 12th BBL 2025 match between the Perth Scorchers and Hobart Hurricanes will take place at Optus Stadium, Perth on Friday. The Hobart Hurricanes have won with a convincing win that exemplified both their bowling and batting firepower as they comfortably chased down 146 against the Melbourne Renegades.

Despite their season opener win, the Perth Scorchers were part of a historic BBL match where they conceded the most runs in a single BBL innings while bowling second, despite their dominating performance.

Also Read: AUS vs ENG Dream11 Prediction 4th Test Playing XI: The Ashes, 2025-26 Fantasy Cricket Tips, Team, and Pitch Report

SCO vs HUR Match Details

• Match: Perth Scorchers vs Hobart Hurricanes, 12th Match 

• Date: 26th December 2025

• Time: 3.45 PM IST

• Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth 

• Live Streaming: FanCode

SCO vs HUR Weather Report

SCO vs HUR Pitch Report

If chasing teams judge their run chase correctly, they can stay competitive as spin comes into play later due to wear and ball hardness loss.

Top Batters to Watch – SCO vs HUR

• Ben McDermott (HUR): 156 runs in this tournament 

• Cooper Connolly (SCO): 136 runs in this tournament 

• Nikhil Chaudhary (HUR): 127 runs in this tournament 

Top Bowlers to Watch – SCO vs HUR

• Chris Jordan (HUR): 6 wickets in this tournament 

• Billy Stanlake (HUR): 3 wickets in this tournament 

• Brody Couch (SCO): 2 wickets in this tournament 

SCO vs HUR Recent Form

SCO vs HUR Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If SCO Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 40–45

• Predicted Total: 150–160

• Match Result: HUR to win

Scenario 2: If HUR Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 40–50

• Predicted Total: 175–180

• Match Result: HUR to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

SCO vs HUR Predicted Playing XIs

Perth Scorchers 

Mitchell Marsh, Finn Allen(w), Cooper Connolly, Aaron Hardie, Ashton Turner(c), Laurie Evans, Nick Hobson,  Ashton Agar, Joel Paris, Brody Couch, Mahli Beardman

Hobart Hurricanes 

Mitchell Owen, Nikhil Chaudhary, Rehan Ahmed, Ben McDermott, Tim David, Matthew Wade(w), Chris Jordan, Nathan Ellis(c), Rishad Hossain, Riley Meredith, Billy Stanlake

SCO vs HUR Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today?

Based on current form, team balance, and superior bowling strength, the Hobart Hurricanes are the favourites to win this BBL match. Ben McDermott, Tim David and Mitchell Owen are expected to be the key performers.

SCO vs HUR Match FAQs

The 8th BBL 2025 match between the Melbourne Renegades and Hobart Hurricanes will take place at Simonds Stadium, Geelong on Sunday. The Melbourne Renegades started their new campaign with an assured victory against Brisbane Heat, defending a massive total of 212 runs and winning by 14 runs.

The Hobart Hurricanes have started their season with a mixed outcome, with one win and one defeat. They lost their previous match by eight wickets against the Melbourne Stars, failing to defend the target of 158 runs. Ben McDermott, who tops the run charts for Hobart this season with 107 runs from two games

Also Read: BBL 2025-26 Match 8: REN vs HUR head-to-head, pitch report & predicted playing XIs

REN vs HUR Match Details

• Match: Melbourne Renegades vs Hobart Hurricanes, 8th Match 

• Date: 21st December 2025

• Time: 1.45 PM IST

• Venue: Simonds Stadium, Geelong

• Live Streaming: FanCode

REN vs HUR Weather Report

REN vs HUR Pitch Report

The surface is usually hard and true, but not a flat run-fest. Batters should be placed rather than constantly slogging. Bowlers who utilize the breeze, cutters, and wide lines are more likely to dominate the game.

Top Batters to Watch – REN vs HUR

• Ben McDermott (HUR): 107 runs in this tournament 

• Tim Seifert (REN): 102 runs in this tournament 

• Ollie Peake (REN): 57 runs in this tournament 

Top Bowlers to Watch – REN vs HUR

• Will Sutherland (REN): 3 wickets in this tournament 

• Billy Stanlake (HUR): 3 wickets in this tournament 

• Jason Behrendorff (REN): 2 wickets in this tournament 

REN vs HUR Recent Form

REN vs HUR Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If HUR Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 40–45

• Predicted Total: 160–165

• Match Result: REN to win

Scenario 2: If REN Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 45–55

• Predicted Total: 170–185

• Match Result: REN to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

REN vs HUR Predicted Playing XIs

Hobart Hurricanes 

Mitchell Owen, Nikhil Chaudhary, Rehan Ahmed, Ben McDermott, Tim David, Matthew Wade(w), Chris Jordan, Nathan Ellis(c), Rishad Hossain, Riley Meredith, Billy Stanlake

Melbourne Renegades 

Josh Brown, Tim Seifert, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Oliver Peake, Will Sutherland(c), Matthew Spoors, Adam Zampa, Gurinder Sandhu, Fergus O’ Neill, Jason Behrendorff

REN vs HUR Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today?

Based on current form, team balance, and superior bowling strength, Melbourne Renegades are favourites to win this BBL match. Josh Brown, Tim Seifert and Jake Fraser-McGurk are expected to be the key performers.

REN vs HUR Match FAQs

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans were pretty happy on November 30 as their former captain, Virat Kohli, smashed a fine century during the ODI contest against South Africa. But their joy knew no bounds when their lower-order batter, Tim David, smashed a fine knock of 98 runs in 30 balls during the Abu Dhabi T20 League final.

The Australian batter wreaked havoc in the final for the UAE Bulls against the Rahmanullah Gurbaz-led Aspin Stallions at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. James Vince retired hurt early in the innings, while another RCB player, Phil Salt, clubbed 18 runs in eight balls. Rovman Powell smashed 24 runs in 20 balls, but the eyes were on Tim David.

See Also: Watch: Virat Kohli makes special celebration for his 52nd ODI century during IND vs SA 1st ODI in Ranchi

The right-handed batter remained unbeaten on 98 runs in just 30 balls at a strike rate of 326.67, with the help of three boundaries and 12 sixes. This knock included five over boundaries in the final over of the series against Ashmead Nedd as the Bulls fired their way to 150/1 in 10 overs.

Watch: Tim David whacks 98* in 30 balls during Abu Dhabi T10 League final

In the penultimate over of the first innings, David reached his fifty with a six off just 20 deliveries. He hit Hafeez for two more sixes in that over before starting the final over with a massive six over long-off. He hit the next ball towards the deep mid-wicket region and smacked another ball over the long-off, deep mid-wicket, and deep extra cover for four successive sixes.

Tim David pressed skip to final ⏭️

A brutal unbeaten 57 off 18 to bulldoze the Bulls into the final 💥#AbuDhabiT10 pic.twitter.com/5zdSIy4EFH

— FanCode (@FanCode) November 30, 2025

The Stallions were never in the chase as they kept losing wickets and never got the runs on the board as expected of them. The highest individual score of the board belongs to their captain, Gurbaz, who smashed 18 runs in 15 balls with the help of three boundaries at a strike rate of 120.

Fazalhaq Farooqi, Junaid Siddique, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Qais Ahmed picked up one wicket each in the four overs as the Bulls won the contest by 80 runs to lift the title.

When India posted 167/8 in the first innings during the fourth T20I of the five-match series against Australia at the Carra Oval in Gold Coast, many thought it would be hard for the visitors to put pressure and defend the score against the home side. But once the ball got old, batting was incredibly tough to achieve proper timing with the bat, and that was what the Suryakumar Yadav-led side kept in mind. 

Matthew Short smashed Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakravarthy for two sixes inside the powerplay, besides two boundaries. But the question is whether the Indian spinners could inspire them to make a strong comeback. Just like the visitors’ middle order, Australia had the same fate as they were reduced to 70/3 in the 10th over.

See Also: [WATCH] Axar Patel draws first blood with Matthew Short's wicket during AUS vs IND 4th T20I

The only man who could turn the game in a blink of an eye was Tim David, who smashed Shivam Dube for a massive six out of the ground and was fresh from his blistering half-century in the previous game. But the bowler had the last laugh with the wicket of the right-handed batter.

Watch: Shivam Dube collects massive wicket of Tim David during AUS vs IND Gold Coast T20I

It was a slower ball from Dube towards David as the ball was late on pulling the short ball, and he got the ball high in the air. It surprised the veteran as it zipped through off the surface and got high on the bat to balloon it to the extra cover region.

- What a delivery that was to get the wicket of the big Man Tim David.

- Well bowled Shivam Dube 👏👏#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/o53pdFrpFO

— Criclytics (@Criclytics_1) November 6, 2025

After the wicket of David, Australia lost Josh Phillipe to the bowling of Arshdeep, while on the last ball of his spell, Varun Chakravarthy collected the massive wicket of Glenn Maxwell, who could have been a little smarter in the process. Australia found themselves 103/6 in 15 overs.

India, in the first innings, recorded 167/8 in their allotted 20 overs after Shubman Gill drilled 46 runs along with Abhishek Sharma’s 28 runs. Axar Patel’s cameo of unbeaten 21 runs in 11 balls was important to shoulder the visitors over the 160-run mark.

India set Australia a target of 168 runs to win the fourth T20I in Queensland, ending their innings at 167/8. Shubman Gill top-scored for India with 46 runs, while Australian bowlers Nathan Ellis and Adam Zampa took three wickets each. With the series tied 1-1, both teams were eager to take the lead in the five-match series.

 Earlier, Suryakumar Yadav lost the toss to Mitchell Marsh, and India was asked to bat first. Opener Abhishek Sharma, known for quick scoring, failed to make an impact and was dismissed early. Despite the slow start, India’s middle order kept the scoreboard moving. The Australian fielders, especially Tim David, were kept busy as India looked to post a competitive total.

The match took an unexpected turn when Tim David became the center of controversy. The Australian cricketer took a brilliant running catch to dismiss Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav, but his celebration that followed left everyone shocked. What started as a great fielding moment quickly turned unpleasant when David’s obscene act was shown on camera, drawing criticism from fans.

Tim David’s Controversial Celebration Goes Viral

Tim David was already involved in the field, having taken one catch earlier. His second came when Xavier Bartlett bowled a slower delivery that Suryakumar Yadav mistimed. The ball flew toward mid-wicket, and David ran to his left to complete the catch near the boundary. Suryakumar departed after scoring 20 runs off 10 balls.

Watch the video here

What is this celebration from Tim David😭 pic.twitter.com/8lhMMTZMi4

— Haydos🛡️ (@GovindIstOdraza) November 6, 2025

After catching the ball, David celebrated with an obscene gesture, simulating the licking of the ball in front of the crowd. The act seemed disrespectful and uncalled for; it went viral in no time on the internet. Fans termed his act "disgusting" and "unsportsmanlike." Even as Australia started chasing 168, the discussion was centered around David's weird celebration, which overshadowed the pulsating India vs Australia contest.

For India to stay in contention of winning the five-match T20I series against Australia, they needed to earn success in the third game of the series at the Canarra Oval in Gold Coast with the series staying on a leveled 1-1 mark. The Blue Brigade, however, came into the clash with full confidence from their last win in Hobart.

It was a decent opening partnership of 56 runs between Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill. But in a baffling decision, the management decided to send Shivam Dube at number three, who, despite his one monster six and boundary, could get only 22 runs in 18 balls before falling to Adam Zampa.

See Also: [WATCH] "More than just a game..."- PM Narendra Modi congratulates India's women's World Cup 2025 winning team

Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian captain, who addressed the surface as the subcontinental, got dismissed for 20 runs in 10 balls. On the first ball of the 16th over, the right-handed batter looked to swing his willow hard and got a lot of height but not so much distance. Tim David held his nerve at the fence and grabbed a comfortable catch to send the veteran back in the shades.

Watch: Tim David’s terrific catch dismisses Suryakumar Yadav for 20 in AUS vs IND 4th T20I

Suryakumar Yadav smashed Adam Zampa for two successive sixes in the 13th over. On the third ball, he found the gap in the deep region as the sweep shot gave him six runs. On the following delivery, he got a great crack in the middle of the bat as Sky reached out to it and nailed the slog sweep for a fine six.

What's going on here Tim? 😂 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/3L7hx8AWK3

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 6, 2025

Apart from him, opener Shubman Gill smashed a decent knock of 46 runs in 39 balls with the help of three boundaries and a six. His partner in the opening position cracked 28 runs. But India’s middle order struggled so much as Nathan Ellis ended with 3/21 in four overs.

Axar Patel started the final over against Marcus Stoinis with a six and a boundary to shoulder the side over the 160-run mark. That would give India some chance to defend against the home batters. 

End of a cracking innings. Shivam Dube got the big fish in the net. Tim David is gone after an entertaining 74-run innings off 38 balls during Australia vs. India 3rd T20I (AUS vs. IND 3rd T20I) of the 5-match series. Near the boundary line, Tilak Varma took a stunning catch to end the stormy batting of Tim David. 

The Australian batter was at his peak against the Indian bowling attack at the Ninja stadium. The right-handed batter was toying with the bowlers. With his strong arms, David was smashing boundaries and over-boundaries for fun. He reached the half-century mark with ease. But India captain Suryakumar Yadav had the plan to clear him from the crease. 

Yadav introduced a combination of Shivam Dube, a pace bowling all-rounder, and a spinner from the other end. Varun Chakravarthy instantly proved his mettle by taking two wickets in two balls. David, who was on the other end of the wicket, could only see his teammates walking back to the dugout.

Read More: WATCH: Indian Women's Cricket Team visits Siddhivinayak Temple ahead of IND-W vs SA-W Women's World Cup 2025 Final

Tilak Varma takes a spectacular catch to dismiss Tim David

Before that successful over of Chakravarthy, David looked lethal against Dube, smashing multiple big shots against the medium pacer. Dube was continuously bowling well off the off stump, and David was hitting those balls for fun. It was a trap from Team India, which later worked. 

In the delivery David got out and there was also an outside delivery from Shivam Dube. This time, the batter did not make the right connection and ended up caught in Varma's safe pair of hands. The catch was not easy to execute. The ball was travelling over the long-off corridor when Tilak jumped timely after covering some ground and gathered the ball precisely right in front of the boundary rope. David had to go. 

Watch the catch here

OUT!

That's the one India wanted. Tim David is out for 74!#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/mjG6qLeL2s

— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) November 2, 2025