Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have confirmed that England batter Jacob Bethell will leave the Indian Premier League after Friday’s fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad, as he joins up with the England national squad for their upcoming white-ball series against the West Indies.
The 21-year-old, who has featured in two matches for RCB this season, has been named in England’s ODI and T20 squads for the six-match tour beginning on 29 May.
In a statement released on Thursday, RCB thanked Bethell for his contributions and announced New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert as his replacement for the remainder of the tournament. Seifert, who is currently representing Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League, will join the squad for a reported fee of 20 million Indian rupees (approximately $232,531).
RCB have already secured a place in the IPL playoffs and remain in contention for their first-ever title, with the squad hoping Seifert’s experience and power-hitting abilities can bolster their chances in the knockout stages.
Seifert, 29, has previously played in the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals and is known for his aggressive style at the top of the order — a potential asset in the business end of the competition.