This player flopped as soon as RCB placed bets on him, and could score just 10 runs on debut
Royal Challengers Bangalore had placed a huge bid for England's 21-year-old all-rounder Jacob Bethell in the IPL mega auction. Bethell entered the auction with a base price of 1.25 crores. During this time, Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad also showed interest. But the Bangalore franchise had made up its mind to buy him. So it kept bidding until Punjab and Hyderabad backed out and bought him for 2.60 crores and included him in the team. But soon after the bet of crores, Bethell flopped.
Scored only 10 runs on debut
Jacob Bethell has the support of England's legendary cricketers. Many legends including Alastair Cook and Nasser Hussain have praised his talent. England's Test team captain Ben Stokes also trusts him blindly. That's why he gave Bethell a chance to debut in the first Test being played against New Zealand in Christchurch without any first class century.
After 46 years, England has included a batsman in the Test team who has no century in first class. However, he could not take advantage of this opportunity. Bethell, famous for his stormy batting, could score only 10 runs in his first Test innings at a strike rate of 29. For this, he faced 34 balls.
Are RCB's plans ruined?
This time RCB has included fast batting players. In such a situation, it would be wrong to judge Bethell's T20 performance from his Test innings. Left-handed Bethell usually plays in the middle order. In 2024, he has played 7 T20 International matches, scoring 173 runs at a strike rate of 167 and an average of 57. He made his T20 debut against Australia this year.
England stumbled and recovered
England is currently in New Zealand for a 3-match Test series. Its first match is being played in Christchurch from 28 November. Ben Stokes won the toss and decided to bowl first. The New Zealand team scored 348 runs in the first innings. On the second day of the game i.e. on 29 November, the England team got a chance to bat but lost 4 wickets for 71 runs. Jack Crowley and Joe Root returned without opening their account.
Ben Duckett scored 46 runs and Jacob Bethell scored 10 runs. However, after the fall of 4 wickets, Ollie Pope and Harry Brook took charge of the team. By the time of writing the news, there was a partnership of more than 80 runs between the two. Brook is present at the crease with 52 runs and Pope with 48 runs. At the same time, the England team has scored 161 runs at the loss of 4 wickets and is trailing by 187 runs.