New Delhi: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)’s overseas trio of Phil Salt, Jacob Bethell and Liam Livingstone flopped in the 1st T20I between India and England at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday. All eyes were on the likes of Salt and rising English sensation Bethell in the game but the duo failed to deliver as the visitors suffered a terrible batting collapse in the series opener.
Salt opened the batting with skipper Jos Buttler for England after India won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first in the game. The big-hitting right-hander was dismissed in the very first over by Arshdeep Singh, who got India off to a perfect start by getting rid of Salt on a 3-ball duck. Livingstone too was dismissed on a duck by spinner Varun Chakarvarthy, who bamboozled him with a googly.
Bethell walked into bat at no.6 with England reeling at 65/4 with skipper Buttler waging a lone battle on the other end. The youngster was expected to steady the ship and build a partnership with the skipper. However, he failed to do so and was dismissed after a dismal 7 off 14 balls. He got caught by Abhishek Sharma off the bowling of Hardik Pandya.
RCB spent big on Salt, Bethell and Livingstone
RCB spent big on acquiring the trio of Salt, Bethell and Livingstone at the IPL 2025 mega auction last year. The franchise bought Salt for Rs 11.50 crore, making him their second-most expensive signing at the IPL 2025 auction behind Josh Hazlewood (Rs 12.50 crore). Livingstone was bought for Rs 8.75 crore while RCB paid Rs 2.60 crore to sign Bethell.
Bethell headed into the T20I series against India after playing for Melbourne Renegades in the ongoing Big Bash League 2024-25. The England star didn’t have a great season for the Renegades as he managed 195 runs in 8 matches at an average of 24.37 and a strike rate of 125. Salt, meanwhile, was last in action for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20 where he scored 75 runs in 3 matches before leaving the tournament for the India series.
From Phil Salt to latest English sensation Jacob Bethell, RCB’s latest IPL recruits failed to impress in the 1st T20I between India and England at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
