Former India opener Aakash Chopra has voiced doubts about Jacob Bethell’s current form ahead of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s match against Gujarat Titans on April 30, arguing that the young batter may be feeling the pressure after a slow start to his IPL season.
Key takeaways
- Chopra feels Bethell’s early numbers are not translating into the kind of impact RCB would expect.
- Bethell has played the last two games since coming in for the injured Phil Salt.
- Chopra questioned whether RCB have clarity on how Romario Shepherd fits into the XI.
- For Gujarat, Chopra highlighted dependence on the top three and continued struggles in the final overs.
- He pointed out that Gujarat’s best output in the last four overs so far is 42, suggesting a finishing problem.
Chopra’s view on Bethell’s role and RCB’s pressure points
Bethell entered the Bengaluru setup after Phil Salt was ruled out due to injury. Chopra noted that while the youngster has been given opportunities in the recent matches, he has not yet managed to turn starts into meaningful scores. He cited Bethell’s returns of 14 from 10 balls and 20 from 11 balls as small signs of promise, but suggested that those glimpses may not be sufficient to meet the demands of the team and the tournament.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said the side’s overall combination may not require a dramatic change, but stressed that Bethell’s outings will inevitably be scrutinised. He also brought up comments made earlier by Alastair Cook about Bethell’s playing time, underlining the contrast between being selected and still failing to deliver substantial runs.
Chopra’s message was direct: “Don’t change anything, although there will be slight pressure on Jacob Bethell because some time back, Alastair Cook was asking him to return if he was not being played. He is playing, but he isn’t scoring runs. He is playing cameos. That’s not good enough. So that is one thing they would want to change.”
Beyond Bethell, Chopra raised another concern about RCB’s use of Romario Shepherd. He suggested there is still a lack of clarity surrounding Shepherd’s role, pointing to how often he is targeted when he bowls and how rarely he gets a chance to contribute with the bat. In Chopra’s view, these factors make his inclusion less effective in the current balance of the XI.
He added, “They still don’t know what Romario Shepherd’s role is because he gets hit a lot when he comes to bowl, and he is not getting to bat at all. This is another incredible part that all teams are playing with 12, they are playing with 11, and are winning despite that.”
Two concerns for Gujarat Titans: top-order dependency and death-overs scoring
Turning his attention to Gujarat Titans, Chopra identified two broad issues he believes could decide how the match plays out. The first, he said, is the franchise’s heavy reliance on its top order—especially Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler. In his assessment, Gujarat’s results are closely tied to whether these three batters deliver when the game demands it.
Chopra said, “GT, you have two issues. It includes your dependency on the top three, which will remain. You cannot do anything about that. Sai Sudharsan scored runs that day (away game against RCB) and needs to score runs today as well, or else Shubman Gill or Jos Buttler should score runs.”
The second concern was Gujarat’s performance in the death overs. Chopra highlighted that their scoring rate during the final four overs has not been strong enough, with 42 representing their highest total in that phase so far. He framed it as a recurring problem that needs addressing quickly if Gujarat want to progress consistently.
He remarked, “Your problem is that you don’t score runs in the last four overs. The highest you have scored is 42. If 42 is a team’s highest in the last four overs, it means you have a problem. You will have to address that problem. How will you progress if you don’t address that?”
What could decide April 30’s clash
With both teams carrying identifiable weak spots, Chopra’s comments suggest the contest could swing on whether individual players—particularly Bethell for RCB—manage to step up, and whether Gujarat Titans are able to correct their late-innings finishing in time. If Gujarat’s top trio can fire while their death-overs output improves, they may neutralise the pressure; if not, Bengaluru’s ability to apply sustained momentum could become decisive.
