Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have played all their group stage matches of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The reigning champions have already qualified for the playoffs. Ahead of their Qualifier 1 match against the Gujarat Titans, there has been some concerning news coming from the RCB camp, as their opening batter Jacob Bethell has been ruled out.
After securing the top spot in the table with 18 points and a better run rate than the other two teams (GT, SRH), who have also qualified with the same points. As reported by Sportskeeda, Bethell will be missing out on playoff matches and will return to England. The English batter suffered an injury to his left ring finger during the match against the Punjab Kings.
Jacob Bethell out of IPL
The Southpaw is set to return to England for assessment ahead of the Test series against the New Zealand national cricket team. Jacob Bethell, despite having a purple patch in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 for the Three Lions, could not perform in the rich cash league. Despite getting starts, he failed to convert them.
Jacob Bethell, who replaced his injured English teammate Phil Salt, scored 96 runs in seven innings, with a poor average of 13.71 and a strike rate of 124.68. He did not even feature in the last game of RCB against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) after picking up a finger injury.
Who will replace Jacob Bethell?
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that he “will be fully assessed and monitored by the England Men’s medical team on his return to determine his availability for selection for the Rothesay first Test against New Zealand.” The ECB stated that the agreement for Bethell to return was in the contract of RCB.
Bethell might be replaced once again by Salt, who rejoined the squad after recovering from the finger injury he suffered earlier in the season. The latter did not play the previous game against the Orange Army. If Salt cannot play, another English hard-hitting batter, Jordan Cox, is in the squad, and he can be an addition in the Playing XI.
Venkatesh Iyer was used as an opener, and he gave RCB a fiery start in the last game and has been scoring small, impactful innings for the defending champions. RCB are a team that does not make many changes on their side. So they can go with Venky Iyer rather than bringing in someone new.
RCB finished in the top position despite the 55-run loss vs SRH last night.
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