Jacob Bethell replaces injured Phil Salt in RCB playing XI vs GT IPL 2026; social media explodes
Jacob Bethell, known for his explosive left-handed batting and handy off-spin, gets his first chance of the season. The move adds balance and firepower to the middle order.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) handed a surprise opportunity to young English all-rounder Jacob Bethell in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash against the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Phil Salt’s last-minute injury forced the change, and fans could not contain their excitement on social media. RCB captain Rajat Patidar won the toss and chose to bowl first on a surface that looked tricky early on.
Rajat Patidar during the toss
At the toss, RCB skipper Rajat Patidar kept things straightforward while revealing the big news. He said the pitch would favour bowlers initially and that chasing would give his side clear targets.
“I just feel this will be a bowl-first pitch. And as you all know, chasing gives us a lot of clarity about the result, the score, and the total. One change: Salty got injured, Bethell is in. I think one great point that I like is that we are assessing the wicket and assessing the situation pretty well this year. And of course, there’s a lot of planning behind it. It’s pretty obvious. Whenever you come here at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, it’s a good wicket to bat on. But I think there’s no grass on it, so first innings it might be a bit tacky,” Patidar explained.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Playing XI and Impact Subs
RCB playing XI: Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (w), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam Dar.
Impact subs: Jacob Bethell, Jordan Cox, Mangesh Yadav, Vicky Ostwal, Venkatesh Iyer.
Social media reacts with massive buzz
As soon as the teams were announced, X lit up. Fans celebrated Jacob Bethell’s inclusion.
What the change means for RCB in match against GT
This is more than just one replacement. RCB has shown smart planning all season by reading conditions quickly. Bringing in Jacob Bethell keeps the team flexible and gives the bench a chance to prove itself. With big hitters like Tim David and Romario Shepherd already in the mix, the side looks ready to chase any total set by Gujarat Titans.
The move also highlights how injuries can open doors. Bethell has impressed in international T20s and now gets the perfect stage to make his mark in IPL 2026.
About the Author
Aachal Maniyar is a Senior Content Producer at LiveMint, where she covers US sports with a focus on major leagues, marquee events, and athlete-driven stories, while also reporting extensively on cricket and global sports. With over five years of first-hand journalism experience, she combines sharp editorial judgment with real-time sports storytelling across platforms. <br><br> Her reporting journey spans leading newsrooms including Thomson Reuters, India TV, BTVI, ET NOW, and CNBC TV18, where she has worked across breaking news, live match coverage, feature writing, interviews, video scripting, and anchoring. This multi-platform exposure has shaped her ability to deliver context-rich sports and business journalism tailored for both television and digital audiences. <br><br> Aachal has conducted and produced exclusive interviews with athletes and public figures such as India cricketer Dhruv Jurel, Indian women’s hockey captain Savita Punia, and industrialist Ratan Tata, along with several emerging and established sports personalities. Her body of work includes in-depth explainers, athlete profiles, emotionally resonant fan narratives, and data-backed match analysis across cricket, Olympic sports, and international competitions. <br><br> She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune, and believes in reporting that is grounded in accuracy, clarity, and credibility. Her philosophy is simple: sports journalism should go beyond scores and statistics, capturing the human stories, pressure moments, and decisions that shape the game and the people who play it.
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