Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Jacob Bethell Out for IPL 2026
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has announced that batter Jacob Bethell will miss the rest of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. Bethell sat out RCB’s final league match against SunRisers Hyderabad and will head back to England for rehabilitation before rejoining the national team.
This news comes at a pivotal moment for RCB as they prepare for Qualifier 1 of the IPL playoffs against the Gujarat Titans. Despite a tough defeat to SunRisers in their last league match, RCB finished the season at the top of the table.
Bethell injured his left ring finger during a previous game against the Punjab Kings. The injury occurred when he dove to make a catch.
An official statement from RCB on May 23 said, “Jacob Bethell has sustained an injury to his left ring finger during our match against Punjab Kings. After a medical assessment, he will return to England for further evaluation ahead of the upcoming Test series.”
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also confirmed the injury and noted that RCB and the ECB have reached an agreement regarding Bethell’s return.
“The ECB has accepted that Jacob Bethell will return to the UK after injuring his left ring finger during the IPL. He will be assessed by the England Men’s medical team to see if he can participate in the Rothesay first Test against New Zealand set for June 4,” the statement added.
Phil Salt Returns to Strengthen RCB
As RCB faces the Gujarat Titans in the playoffs, they will benefit from the return of opener Phil Salt. If fit, Salt is expected to slot directly back into the lineup. In the last match against RCB, all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer opened the innings and made a quick 44 runs off 19 balls. However, if Salt plays, Iyer may bat further down the order.
This playoff matchup promises to be an exciting challenge for RCB as they aim for IPL glory.
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