Vaughan Urges Jacob Bethell to Return Home After Injury Scare in IPL
Michael Vaughan has called for England batter Jacob Bethell to take the next flight home following an injury he sustained while playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League. Bethell was absent from RCB's lineup during their recent match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday, with captain Rajat Patidar confirming that the young player damaged his finger. While RCB has not provided detailed information about the injury's severity, concerns arise as England prepares for its first Test of the summer against New Zealand in less than two weeks. Bethell is slated to bat at number three after impressively scoring a century during the final Ashes match in January. However, the ongoing IPL play-offs mean he will miss next week's training camp in Loughborough. Vaughan expressed his views on the situation, stating, "If Jacob Bethell’s injured he should be on the next plane home to England. He should be back on a plane, making sure that England have a look at him. If he has one I would think he’s better off back in the UK getting assessed." At just 22, Bethell has participated in seven of RCB's 14 matches this season, with his highest score being 27. His position in the team is not secure, especially with Virat Kohli guaranteed a spot as an opener and Venkatesh Iyer stepping in with a score of 44 against Sunrisers. Vaughan added, "I’m a bit old school... if he’s not going to play for Royal Challengers, then England have a training camp next week." He emphasized that while Bethell has gained experience in the IPL, his success has been limited this season. In addition to Bethell's concerns, England's Jofra Archer is also unavailable for the Lord’s Test due to commitments with Rajasthan Royals, aiming to return for the second Test at the Kia Oval.
Source: The Independent Sport - 2026-05-22