'Virat Kohli was great with the information' - Jacob Bethell praises RCB star for helping him during IPL 2025

Jacob Bethell helped England win the first ODI of the series against the West Indies to start the English coloured clothing summer on a high note. The lower order batter won the Player of the Match award with his 82(53) and 1/18 against the two-time ODI World Cup winners. After the match, he spoke about how Virat Kohli helped his game evolve in a matter of just a few months.

The southpaw claimed that his stint with RCB in the IPL 2025 was beneficial, as he regards himself to be a better player than he was before playing the league. The emerging star said Virat was great with his information, and all he had to do was ask him. Bethell felt it was great to be a part of RCB and added that he felt special.

"I found that experience very beneficial for my game. I feel like I am a better player now than I was two months before I went to India. Virat Kohli was great with the information and how he goes about his batting. All I had to do was ask, and he was great with that stuff. Being a part of that tournament was special. There is a lot of noise around it, so it was great to be a part of it," said Bethell in the post-match conversation.

I felt the energy when I went out to bat with Virat: Bethell

The England batter added that he enjoyed playing in the middle when he didn't get chances and stepped up when he had to replace Phil Salt for a couple of matches. Bethell said that Virat and Andy Flower helped him and added that there was different energy and intensity when he walked out to bat with Kohli and wished to continue it in his game.

"I was always going to be in the IPL after I signed that contract. I watched the boys do well from afar and enjoyed it. Virat was great. He was happy to share lots of advice with me, and Andy Flower was a great coach, too. I felt the energy when I went out to bat with Virat, and that is something I will take into my game, that intensity," Bethell added.

The Englishman left the RCB squad to join England for the ODI series against the West Indies. Before doing so, he played two games for the Bengaluru-based franchise and scored 67 runs at an average of 33.50 and a strike rate of 171.79. On the other hand, Virat has been brilliant with 614 runs in 14 innings at an average of 55.81 and a strike rate of 146.53, including a whopping eight 50+ scores in the IPL 2025.