Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Thursday signed Tim Seifert for Rs 2 crore as a replacement for Jacob Bethell for the IPL 2025 playoffs.

Bethell will be released from the RCB squad following the team's league game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 23. Bethell is set to join the England national team for the white-ball series against West Indies, starting May 29. "Welcome to #ನಮ್ಮRCB, Bam Bam," RCB wrote on X announcing the signing of Seifert.

This means Seifert, an explosive opening batter from New Zealand, will be available for selection only in the playoffs. Seifert - a wicketkeeper-batter - has played 66 T20Is for New Zealand and scored 1,540 runs at an average of 28.

Bethell, a middle-order batter, made his IPL debut earlier this season and played two matches for RCB, scoring 67 runs.

After scoring 12 runs in his debut against Delhi Capitals, Bethell played a crucial knock of 55 off 33 balls in his second match against Chennai Super Kings. This innings made him the youngest overseas batter to score a fifty in the IPL, breaking the previous record held by Jake Fraser-McGurk.

RCB are currently placed second on the points table, and they will look to finish in the Top 2 at the end of the league stage of IPL 2025.

They have two matches remaining in the season - against SRH on May 23 and against Lucknow Super Giants on May 27. Both matches will be played at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, and the results of these games will determine their standings in the playoffs.

RCB boast a strong squad, with Phil Salt and Virat Kohli opening the innings. Captain Rajat Patidar and Jitesh Sharma follow come next in the order, while Tim David and Romario Shepherd play the role of finishers. Given the current strength of RCB's batting unit, Seifert may find it difficult to secure a spot in the playing XI.

In the bowling department, Krunal Pandya has emerged as a reliable option, while Suyash Sharma has been incredible in keeping things tight for batters. However, uncertainty around Josh Hazlewood’s fitness is a major concern for RCB. Hazlewood, RCB’s highest wicket-taker this season with 18 scalps, is currently nursing a niggle.