IPL 2025 RCBvCSK: Jacob Bethel shines with fiery half-century for RCB against CSK

Young England batter Jacob Bethel opened his arrival in style with a blistering half-century for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their clash against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

After failing to make an impact in his debut outing, Bethel made the most of his opportunity in the second match. Opening alongside Virat Kohli, the 20-year-old left-hander launched a counter-attack against CSK’s bowling unit led by MS Dhoni. Despite an early hiccup when his bat broke mid-innings, Bethel remained unfazed and displayed composure and flair.

Also read: IPL 2025: RCB likely to miss Phil Salt for clash against CSK today

Winning the toss, Dhoni opted to field first. RCB openers Kohli and Bethel took full advantage of the batting-friendly conditions, putting on a commanding 91-run stand for the first wicket. Bethel’s aggressive knock featured 8 crisp fours and 2 towering sixes, reaching his half-century in just 28 balls. He eventually fell for 55, caught by Dewald Brevis while trying to accelerate further.

The young batter’s performance was especially noteworthy given the absence of regular opener Phil Salt, and it provided RCB with a solid start in a must-win game. His innings has not only revived his form but also added firepower to RCB's top order.

With this standout performance, Bethel has marked himself as one to watch in the remainder of the tournament.