England batter Jacob Bethell has revealed how Indian batting icon Virat Kohli has played a huge influence in his career. Speaking on The Super Over Podcast, Bethell spoke about Kohli's personality away
from the cricket field and the impact he had inside the RCB dressing room. The left hander shared that despite not being Royal Challengers Bengaluru's captain, Kohli's influence within the team remains as strong as ever.
Jacob Bethell said, "Off the field, he is a very chilled individual. It's great to spend time with him. He was not the captain when I was there, but he is a massive leader within the team. He shares unbelievable information during team meetings."
The England batter has never hidden his admiration for Kohli. Since joining RCB, the youngster has spoken on several occasions about how much he learned by watching one of the game's greatest batters up close.
Bethell's comments offer a glimpse into Virat Kohli's role at RCB beyond his batting. Although Rajat Patidar led the side during the 2026 IPL season, Kohli continued to be one of the senior figures in the dressing room, using his experience to mentor younger players and contribute during discussions. Earlier this year, Bethell said batting alongside Kohli allowed him to play with more freedom and his approach to chasing targets taught him valuable lessons about pacing an innings and reading match situations.
Jacob Bethell about Virat Kohli. [The Super Over Podcast] "Off the field, he is a very chilled individual - it's great to spend time with, he was not the captain when I was there but he is a massive leader within the team - he shares unbelievable information during team… pic.twitter.com/QWzU5ACxlN
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 20, 2026
Jacob Bethell's all-round brilliance helps England beat India
Jacob Bethell's praise for Virat Kohli comes at a time when he is enjoying one of the best phases of his young international career across formats. The 22 year old produced a game changing all-round display in the third and final ODI against India at Lord's, playing a key role in England's series-clinching victory.
Opening the batting alongside Ben Duckett, Bethell smashed a fluent 91 off 93 deliveries as the pair stitched together a record 192-run opening partnership against India in ODIs. Their partnership laid the foundation for England's imposing total of 387/3, the highest ODI score ever recorded at Lord's. He later played a key role with his bowling, picking up the wicket of Rohit Sharma and delivered a brilliant spell to seal the game for England.
