England’s Jacob Bethell produced a stunning century in the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal against India at Wankhede Stadium, scoring 105 off 48 balls in a losing cause, but the young all-rounder will channel that explosive form into the Indian Premier League 2026 season, wearing Royal Challengers Bengaluru colors after being retained by the defending champions for ₹2.60 crore.
Bethell’s Match-Winning Knock Falls Just Short
Chasing India’s mammoth 253/7, England lost Phil Salt, captain Harry Brook, and Jos Buttler inside the powerplay, reducing them to a precarious position.
Bethell kept England’s hopes alive with aggressive batting, reaching his half-century off just 19 deliveries before accelerating further to complete a brilliant century.
His 48-ball 105, featuring eight fours and seven sixes, nearly pulled off an impossible chase before an unlucky run-out in the final over ended England’s campaign.
India won by seven runs to book their final date with New Zealand on March 8 at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
RCB Retention and IPL 2025 Campaign
Jacob Bethell was part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s title-winning squad in IPL 2025. However, he played only two matches for the franchise, with his last appearance coming against Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 23, before leaving ahead of the playoffs due to international commitments.
RCB replaced him with New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert for ₹2 crore, who contributed to their championship run. Despite his limited involvement, RCB showed faith in Bethell’s potential by retaining him for IPL 2026 at ₹2.60 crore.
What Bethell Brings to RCB
The left-handed batter’s ability to score quickly from the first ball, as demonstrated with his 19-ball fifty against India, makes him a valuable asset for RCB’s explosive batting lineup. His all-round skills, including handy off-spin bowling, add further balance to the defending champions’ squad composition.
With IPL 2026 starting on March 26, Bethell will look to make a bigger impact for RCB this season.
