‘Virat Kohli was unbelievable in helping me out': England's Jacob Bethell credits RCB days for overall growth
21-year-old Englishman Jacob Bethell has had a memorable last 12 months, making his international debut across all three formats since September 2024. To add the cherry on top at the end of his first year at the highest level of cricket, Bethell was also rewarded with silverware in his very first attempt in the IPL, as he helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their maiden IPL title this year.
While Bethell missed the playoffs due to international duty, his importance was seen as he stepped in for countryman Phil Salt while the latter was battling an illness midway through the league stage of the tournament. Bethell impressed in his two appearances, including a blazing half-century against CSK, which included a 97-run partnership opening the batting alongside Virat Kohli.
Speaking to Sky Cricket about his experience in the RCB dressing room, Bethell had nothing but positive memories of his time with the team. Just having access to a player of Kohli's quality was something Bethell took a lot away from, saying: 'It's been great. [Virat] was unbelievable with helping me out, and even just the things he didn't say to me personally, but just watching how he goes about training and how he approaches things.'
'Especially like chasing in a T20 game. That was unbelievable to watch and unbelievable to see first hand, just how easily he is able to shift up and down the gears and is able to template an innings depending on what is needed,' said the young Englishman about watching a cricketer at the very opposite end of his career.
Bethell, who is one of the shining talents in English cricket, has already played some glorious knocks across all three formats, including an impressive 82 against West Indies the day of RCB's Qualifier 1 win against PBKS, who they would go on to beat in the final to lift the trophy.
The southpaw batting all-rounder will be a key part of England's plans against India in the upcoming five-match Test series, likely to bat at number three, and will be looking to have a statement series against strong opposition, with or without Virat Kohli in the team.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scroll.in
17 minutes ago
- Scroll.in
Bengaluru stampede: Karnataka HC orders interim release of RCB marketing head, three others
The Karnataka High Court on Thursday ordered the interim release of the marketing head of Indian Premier League team Royal Challengers Bengaluru and three others who were arrested in connection with the stampede outside Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium, Live Law reported. Eleven persons were killed and more than 50 were injured on June 4 in the stampede near the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where fans had gathered to celebrate the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's victory in the Indian Premier League. On June 5, the court took suo motu cognisance of the incident and issued notice to the Congress government in the state. It also sought a status report from the Karnataka government. A day later, the Karnataka Police arrested Nikhil Sosale, the marketing head of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, along with event management firm DNA Entertainment Networks' Sunil Mathew, Kiran Kumar S and Shamant NP Mavinakere in connection with the stampede. On Thursday, Justice SR Krishna Kumar ordered the interim release of the four men, and directed them to surrender their passports, Live Law reported. During the hearing on Wednesday, Sosale's counsel argued that individuals cannot be held liable when an entity is named in the first information report, and claimed the arrests were made without proper investigation. The petitioners also argued that their arrests were politically motivated and made allegedly on the directions of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, despite the police lacking jurisdiction over the case, The Hindu reported. In response, Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty, representing the state of Karnataka argued that Royal Challengers Bengaluru held the victory parade without official permission and misled the public through social media posts. 'They have over 28 lakh followers milords,' Shetty was quoted as saying by the legal news outlet. 'They have invited the whole world but no permission is given.'
Time of India
19 minutes ago
- Time of India
Watch: 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi breathes fire with bat; video goes viral
Vaibhav Suryavanshi (Screengrabs) NEW DELHI: India's cricketing future appears to be in safe and sensational hands. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 14-year-old prodigy from Bihar and Rajasthan Royals ' latest find, has once again captured national attention after smashing a jaw-dropping 190 off just 90 balls in a practice match at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The video of his explosive knock, recorded during an India Under-19 team camp, has since gone viral, sending social media into a frenzy. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Watch: This latest innings adds to the rapidly growing legend of Suryavanshi, who has already rewritten the record books in his debut IPL season. Poll Do you think Vaibhav Suryavanshi will become a future star in international cricket? Yes, absolutely! Maybe, if he keeps performing. No, it's too early to tell. This year, the teenager became the youngest-ever centurion in men's T20 cricket when he hammered 101 off 38 balls against Gujarat Titans, a blistering knock that included the second-fastest century in IPL history, off just 35 deliveries. Suryavanshi made his IPL debut against Lucknow Super Giants under unexpected circumstances, stepping in for the injured Sanju Samson. He made an immediate impact, smashing his very first ball, bowled by Shardul Thakur, for six, and finishing with a quickfire 34 off 20 balls. By the end of the season, he had tallied 252 runs in seven matches, cementing his place as one of the most promising young talents in Indian cricket. 'Nitish Kumar is a guy who can bowl that magic ball': India bowling coach Morne Morkel His IPL journey began in unprecedented fashion when, at just 13 years old, he was picked up by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 1.1 crore during the 2025 auction, making him the youngest player ever to sign an IPL contract. But Suryavanshi's brilliance isn't limited to T20s. He notched a 58-ball century in a four-day match against Australia U-19, played a key role in India's run to the final of the 2024 ACC U-19 Asia Cup, and famously scored an unbeaten 332 in the Randhir Verma Tournament, a remarkable triple-century in junior cricket.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
28 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Karnataka HC orders interim release of RCB marketing head, 3 others
Karnataka High Court on Thursday ordered interim release of RCB Marketing head Nikhil Sosale and there others arrested in connection with the June 4 stampede that killed 11 people. Others who got relief from the High Court are Sunil Mathew, Kiran Kumar S and Shamant N P Mavinakere of the event organising company DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt Ltd, who were also arrested on June 6. The Court asked the arrested persons to surrender their passport. The stampede that occurred outside the Chinnaswamy stadium claimed the lives of 11 people during an event organised to celebrate the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's maiden IPL title win. The case came up for hearing before Justice S R Krishna Kumar, who had reserved the verdict on interim plea by Sosale after hearing arguments on June 11. Sosale and other petitioners are presently in judicial custody. On June 9, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) produced Sosale and other three arrested individuals before a local magistrate court, seeking nine-day custody. But the magistrate court had deferred the matter awaiting HC decision. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
