IPL 2025: RCB beat Capitals to go top

Jacob Bethell made his return from injury as Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Delhi Capitals by six wickets to go top of the table in the Indian Premier League.

Bethell, making his IPL debut, scored 12 from eight balls at the top of the order as he played his first game since early February, when he picked up a hamstring injury.

Krunal Pandya and Virat Kohli, who came together with RCB 26-3 after four overs, put on 119 to guide their side through the middle overs and accelerated towards the end to set up victory.

Krunal notched an unbeaten 73 from 47 balls while Kohli, who opened with Bethell, anchored the innings with 51 from 47 deliveries.

Kohli, playing for RCB at the ground in Delhi with a pavilion named after him, is now the top-scorer in this year’s IPL, with 443 in 10 innings.

Bethell, 21, could be in line to play in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe from 22 May after impressing in the three-Test series in New Zealand in December but the injury lay-off may put that in doubt.

His selection may also depend on RCB’s progress in the IPL, as the competition’s knockout stages overlap with the start of England’s red-ball summer.

Bethell replaced fellow England batter Phil Salt at the top of the order for RCB, who missed the game because of illness.

RCB bowled well to restrict Delhi Capitals to 162-8 in the first innings. Suyash Sharma was particularly economical, going wicketless in his four overs but only conceding 22 runs, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 3-33.

KL Rahul was the pick of the Delhi batters with 41 from 39 balls.

Royal Challengers are now two points ahead of Gujarat Titans at the top, albeit having played two games more. Delhi Capitals are two points behind in fourth. (BBC)