Bethell to leave for national duty; RCB rope in Seifert as replacement

Jacob Bethell has so far featured in two games for RCB this season © BCCI/IPL
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have signed New Zealand's Tim Seifert as Jacob Bethell's replacement. Bethell will leave for national duties following RCB's penultimate league game of the season against Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 24, to be part of England's white-ball squad against West Indies. Consequently, the replacement will be effective from the same date.

Seifert, 30, last played in the IPL for the Delhi Capitals in the 2022 season after making his league debut for the Kolkata Knight Riders the previous year. A wicketkeeper-bat, Seifert comes with a tally of 5862 runs in 262 T20s at a strike-rate of 133.07. He will be available for RCB's last league game - against Lucknow Super Giants on May 27 - as well as the playoffs.

Seifert has joined RCB for INR 2 crore.