Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium witnessed a piece of cricketing immortality on Thursday as Jacob Bethell smashed a blistering 105-run knock off 48 deliveries in the T20 World Cup semi-final. England fell short by seven runs against hosts India, but the young gun’s fireworks lit up the night and rewrote record books.
What sets this apart? Bethell is the pioneer batter to claim his very first century in first-class, List A, and T20 cricket—all during international matches for England. No domestic warm-up needed; he delivered on the biggest stage each time.
Since bursting onto the domestic scene in June 2021, the prodigy earned England call-ups by September 2024. His ledger boasts one Test hundred and three fifties for 476 runs in six games, a List A ton and five half-tons yielding 603 ODI runs in 21 outings, and this T20 masterpiece boosting his 31-match tally to 697 runs with three prior fifties. Bowling adds value too: 4 Test scalps, 8 ODI wickets, and 8 in T20Is.
England’s selectors, who fast-tracked him across formats and gave him leadership duties, look prophetic now. Fans worldwide are buzzing about the 21-year-old’s potential to redefine England’s white-ball future.
Though the semi-final loss stings, Bethell’s history-making innings promises an exciting era ahead for the Three Lions.