Jacob Bethell credits Virat Kohli after his player of the match performance vs WI in 1st ODI

England middle-order batter Jacob Bethell, who played a match-winning knock of 82 runs in 53 balls against West Indies in the first ODI, credited former RCB captain Virat Kohli for his advice during his stint with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2025 season.

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Moving into the details of the game, England batted first after losing the toss. They posted a daunting total of 400/8 in 50 overs. While Bethell smacked 82, Harry Brook (58), Joe Root (57) and Ben Duckett (60) also played important knocks.

"I was always going to be in the IPL after I signed that contract. I watched the boys do well from afar and really enjoyed it. Virat was great. He was happy to share lots of advice with me, and Andy Flower was a great coach, too. I felt the energy when I went out to bat with Virat, and that is something I will take into my game, that intensity,” Bethell told BBC.

In the chase, the West Indies got bundled out for 162 runs in 26.2 overs. Saqib Mahmood and Jamie Overton scalped three wickets apiece, while Jacob Bethell and Brydon Carse pocketed one wicket each, with Adil Rashid picking up two wickets.

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Notably, Bethell was bought for the whopping price of Rs 2.6 Crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction and played two games for RCB. While the 21-year-old scored 12 (6) in his first game against Delhi Capitals (DC), he later scored 55 (33) in his second match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

Importantly, Bethell added 97 runs for the opening wicket with Virat Kohli in 59 balls against CSK as RCB got a perfect start. However, Bethell had to leave the IPL season midway to take part in the ODI series against the West Indies.

England's Jacob Bethell credits Virat Kohli and his IPL 2025 experience with RCB for his Player of the Match performance in the 1st ODI against West Indies. Discover what he learned from the Indian superstar.Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at Sky247 India and download the Sky247 app to start betting today!