RCB sign Tim Seifert, currently playing in Pakistan’s PSL, as Jacob Bethell’s replacement | Ipl News
Royal Challengers Bengaluru announced that they have signed Tim Seifert as a replacement for Jacob Bethell, who is set to leave for England to join the national team. Seifert is currently playing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for the Karachi Kings. The Kings are set to play the PSL Eliminator against Lahore Qalandars on Thursday. If the Karachi Kings make it to the PSL final, which is to be played on May 25 in Lahore, Seifert could only likely to be available for the RCB by May 26 when they are in Lucknow to take on Lucknow Super Giants in their final group stage clash.
Seifert — who has had short stints with the Delhi Capitals for two matches in IPL 2022 and Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021 — has scored 226 runs in nine innings as an opener for the Karachi Kings. He has a strike rate of 145.80 with a best score of 47 this season in PSL. New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Seifert has played 66 T20Is and has 1540 runs against his name from the same. He will join RCB for Rs 2 crore.
RCB are currently in the second spot in the IPL 2025 standings with two more games left. They have already qualified for the IPL 2025 playoffs, but are hoping to stay in the top 2 spots, since that guarantees an easier path into the IPL final.
“Bethell is set to leave from Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 for England on May 24 — following RCB’s league-stage game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 23 — to join the England team,” RCB said in a statement on Thursday. The franchise added that Tim Seifert’s replacement will be effective from May 24.
Bethell played in two matches for RCB in his maiden IPL season. He was brought in as a replacement for an unwell Phil Salt in the line-up. Bethell struck a 33-ball 55 in his previous innings against Chennai Super Kings on May 3.
As they chase their maiden IPL title, RCB are currently sweating over the availability of Josh Hazlewood, who is back in Australia trying to shake off a shoulder niggle that he picked up ahead of RCB’s fixture against CSK.
Recently, RCB named Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani as a short-term replacement for their other pace spearhead from overseas, South Africa’s Lungi Ngidi, who will miss the IPL playoffs as he prepares for the WTC final.
