In the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) dressing room, England all-rounder Jacob Bethell has delivered interesting analysis on Virat Kohli’s persona. The two were key to the Bengaluru-based team’s successive Indian Premier League championships in 2025 and 2026.
Bethell has only played a few games for RCB in his two seasons in India, but he has always opened the innings with Kohli. The Indian superstar’s approachability off the pitch was appreciated by the left-handed batter.
He did, however, also commend Kohli for his quick transition to his competitive side.
Despite no longer being the captain, the England international praised Kohli’s leadership in the team, stating that he is a relaxed man outside of cricket.
You know, fantastic to talk to and spend time with. But, it’s just that ability to then flip into that competitive nature in and around cricket or training.
His lifestyle is incredibly… Everything is… All the arrows are pointing in a high performance direction, right? So he gives himself the best opportunity. But, yes, he is an extremely competitive person.
He wasn’t captain when I was there, but he’s a huge leader in the team,” Jacob Bethell said on The Super Over podcast, according to Cricket News.
Bethell appeared seven times in RCB’s championship-winning 2026 season as Phil Salt’s replacement due to injury. Despite showing promise, the left-hander only scored 96 runs with a strike rate of 124.67 this season, averaging less than 14.
On the other hand, Kohli was once again crowned the tournament’s batting star for RCB. He scored 675 runs with a strikeout rate of 165.84 throughout multiple key innings, including the final. In the championship game against the Gujarat Titans, the right-handed hitter scored an undefeated 75 to help his team win.
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