IPL 2025: RCB sign Karachi Kings’ star batter as Jacob Bethell’s replacement

NEW DELHI/LAHORE: The Royal Challenger Bengaluru (RCB) on Thursday signed New Zealand’s Tim Seifert as a replacement for Bethell for the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 session.

The player Bettell is set to leave after the RCB’s penultimate league fixture against the Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 24, as he will join the England’s white-ball squad to participate in their upcoming series scheduled shortly against the West Indies.

The incoming player Seifert, whose sign valued at INR 2 crore, will take an immediate effect on the same date.

The New Zealand’s player featured the Delhi Capitals during the 2022 session while Kolkata Knight Riders, with whom he made a league debut, in 2021 session of the Indian league _ IPL.

The smart Seifert, who is an opening batter, hoards a rich experience in T20 games, as he scored 5,862 runs in 262 innings at a strike rate of 133.07.

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The 30-year-old batter will show up on the pitch for RCB’s final league game to play against Lucknow Super Giants on May 27.

The RCB, having already secured eight wins from 11 league matches in total, remain stead-fast, hunting for a top-two finish.

The RCB will mainly focus on strengthening their position to deliver a strong blow to Sunrise Hyderabad during their match scheduled on Friday in Lucknow. 

The Royal, after May 27 significant clash against the Lucknow Super Giants, will conclude their league campaign on the same day.

Currently, the smart wicketkeeper-batter is on ground with the Karachi Kings, playing in the ongoing session of the Pakistan Super League Ten (PSL-10) _ a session that reached a record high in its whole history on the ICC broadcasting.

The Kings have already advanced to the playoffs after finishing third in the PSL stage. Seifert, who amazingly impressed his team players by delivering guaranteed stay on pith, contributing 226 runs in nine matches at an average of 25.11 and a strike rate of 145.80.

The Karachi Kings, preceded by experienced David Warner, are set to strongly compete in Eliminator clash with local rival Lahore Qalandars scheduled on Thursday at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

Quetta Gladiators have already secured their spot in the PSL 10 final after gaining a significant win over the defending champions_ Islamabad United_ in Qualifier 1 on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the winner of the Eliminator will compete against the United in Qualifier 2 that’s to be played Tomorrow (Friday), with the winners advancing to clash against Quetta in the most mastery-testing finale on Sunday.