IPL 2025: Jacob Bethell smashes his IPL maiden fifty vs Chennai Super Kings

Facing Chennai Super Kings at the M Chinnaswamy, Royal  Challengers chose to drop Phill Salt and Jacob Bethell replaced him in the playing XI. CSK won the toss and chose to bowl first inviting the home team to bat first. RCB openers Jacob Bethell and Virat Kohli started strong and gave their team a much needed fiery powerplay start, attacking Khaleel Ahmed and Anshul Kamboj.

Coming on the field, Virat Kohli and Bethell got off to a flying start, the pitch seemed a batter-friendly surface, and the way the duo opened capitalized early on the innings. Virat Kohli started early today as compared to his usual matches, but it was Jacob who stunned today and lit up the innings with his aggressive intent. Virat Kohli and Jacob Bethell started off brilliantly – added 97 (59), the best opening stand for RCB this season.

He came out and smashed a six and four in quick succession, making the most of the powerplay. Despite a dropped chance at 27, Bethell continued to attack and smashed a total of 8 fours and 2 sixes, scoring a rapid 55 off just 33 balls, reaching his maiden Fifty. Just when RCB was aiming for their 100 on the board, CSK got their first breakthrough, and Pathirana dismissed Bethell.

The moment unfolded in the 10th over, when Pathirana bowled a short delivery to Bethell. He tried to pull it over square leg, but was caught off by Dewald Brevis positioned at deep. Brevis made a full-stretch dive to take a low catch and gave their team much needed wicket. Bethell was dismissed for 55, having laid a solid foundation for RCB with his aggressive knock, putting early pressure on CSK.

RCB vs CSK Playing XI

RCB Playing XI: Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lungi Ngidi, Yash Dayal.

CSK Impact Subs: Suyash Sharma, Liam Livingstone, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Swapnil Singh

CSK Playing XI: Shaik Rasheed, Ayush Mhatre, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, Dewald Brevis, Deepak Hooda, MS Dhoni(c/wk), Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj, Matheesha Pathirana.

CSK Impact Subs: Shivam Dube, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Jamie Overton.