Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have officially signed New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert as a temporary replacement for England's Jacob Bethell for the remainder of the IPL 2025 season. Bethell is set to depart after RCB's league-stage match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 23 to fulfill national duties with England's white-ball squads for the upcoming series against the West Indies, starting May 29. Seifert, currently playing for Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League, was acquired by RCB for ₹2 crore. He brings a wealth of experience, having played 66 T20 Internationals for New Zealand, amassing 1,540 runs at a strike rate of 142.85. In T20 cricket overall, he has scored 5,862 runs in 262 matches, including 28 half-centuries and three centuries, with a strike rate of 133.07. RCB, currently second on the IPL 2025 points table with 17 points from 12 matches, have already secured a spot in the playoffs. Seifert's inclusion is aimed at bolstering the squad as they aim for a top-two finish, which would provide a strategic advantage in the playoffs. Under the updated IPL 2025 regulations, temporary replacements like Seifert are permitted due to scheduling overlaps with international fixtures. However, these temporary players will not be eligible for retention in the next season.