The Indian Premier League has long been more than just a tournament—it has acted as a launchpad for emerging talent from both India and abroad. Many players have used their IPL opportunities to catch the eye, later turning those big moments into international careers and, in some cases, lasting stardom. Among the current crop creating buzz is Rajasthan Royals batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) youngster Jacob Bethell has also drawn attention from some of the sport’s biggest names.
De Villiers links Bethell to a familiar left-hand story
- Former RCB icon AB de Villiers spoke about Jacob Bethell in a video posted on his YouTube channel, sharing admiration for the England opener.
- De Villiers pointed out that he had mentioned Bethell’s name “a few times” and said the 20-year-old is a “wonderful” player, while stressing there are still many hurdles ahead.
- He noted the contrast in age between Bethell and Sooryavanshi but highlighted a key similarity: both are left-hand batsmen.
- Using that comparison, De Villiers said the talent in both cases looks exceptional, describing them as bright future stars, while also underlining that learning and experience are still required.
- He added that, once experience accumulates over time, he believes players of that calibre can become extremely difficult to stop.
De Villiers also suggested that Bethell’s path could ultimately mirror the trajectory of Sooryavanshi—though that comparison has sparked a debate given Bethell’s early stage at RCB. So far in his RCB stint, Bethell has made 43 runs across 4 matches, meaning the full extent of his impact at IPL level is still developing.
Even so, the former South African great was confident about Bethell’s ceiling. De Villiers said Jacob may not be as young as Sooryavanshi, but his “credentials” are similar in nature—superstar-level potential paired with the need for further growth. He also expressed hope that Bethell will remain with RCB, believing the franchise will have plans to hold onto him for the long term, and insisted Bethell has the ability to help RCB win plenty of games in the future.
RCB’s belief in Bethell was also reflected in the IPL 2025 auction. The franchise won the race for him with a bid of Rs 2.60 crores, bringing the England opener into the squad with high expectations attached from day one.
