Jacob Bethell delivered one of the most memorable knocks of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 when England faced India in the semi-final at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on March 5. The young left-hander smashed 105 runs off just 48 balls and nearly pulled off an impossible chase for his team.
India batted first after losing the toss and put up a massive 253/7 in their 20 overs. Sanju Samson led the charge with a blistering 89 off 42 balls. He and Ishan Kishan built a 97-run stand for the second wicket that set the tone early. Kishan contributed a quickfire 39 off 18 deliveries. Shivam Dube added 43, while Hardik Pandya chipped in with 27 and Tilak Varma scored 21 to push India past the 250-mark.
England’s reply started on a terrible note. The team lost Phil Salt, Harry Brook, and Jos Buttler all inside the powerplay. Most teams would crumble under that pressure, but Bethell had other plans. He attacked from ball one and raced to his fifty in just 19 deliveries.
Bethell kept swinging hard and reached his century with a mix of eight fours and seven sixes. He single-handedly kept England in the contest. However, a cruel run-out in the final over ended his heroic innings at 105. England finished at 243/7, falling seven runs short of the target. India now faces New Zealand in the final on March 8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Which IPL Team Does Jacob Bethell Play For in 2026?
Jacob Bethell will represent Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the upcoming IPL 2026 season. RCB retained him ahead of the new campaign for INR 2.60 crore. He played two matches for the franchise during IPL 2025, where RCB lifted the trophy.
He had to leave the squad before the playoffs because of England’s international commitments. The franchise then brought in Tim Seifert as his replacement for INR 2 crore. Fans in Bengaluru now eagerly wait to see him play a full season in the RCB jersey.
