Jacob Bethell returns to UK after finger injury in IPL

England batter Jacob Bethell has returned to the UK after sustaining a finger injury during a stint with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League.

The 22-year-old will be assessed and monitored by the England medical team to determine if he will be fit to play in the first Test against New Zealand, which begins on 4 June at Lord's.

Bethell missed the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday and, given the issue with his left ring finger, the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise and the England and Wales Cricket Board agreed he would play no further part in the tournament.

Although Bethell's absence on Friday was thought to be precautionary, further assessment is required to discover the extent of the injury.

After failing to make the RCB team at the beginning of the tournament, Bethell came into the side following an injury to fellow England international Phil Salt. In seven innings, his highest score has been 27.

Bethell's presence at the IPL, rather than playing first-class cricket for Warwickshire, has been the subject of debate.

After scoring a breakthrough century in the final Ashes Test in Sydney in January, Bethell is lined up to bat at number three in a home Test for the first time against New Zealand.

He will do so on the back of limited red-ball cricket for the Bears – Bethell has played only once in the County Championship since August 2024.

Before Bethell broke into the Bengaluru team, former England captain Sir Alastair Cook questioned his presence in India when he said: "He's not doing anything. Ideally he could come back and open for Warwickshire to help England."

Cook's ex-England team-mate Kevin Pietersen responded by writing on X: "Alastair Cook has absolutely NO IDEA what it's like to be in the IPL. What it's like to always be around the best players in the world.

"So his opinion on Jacob Bethell doesn't matter at all. Stay in India, Jacob. I know, even though you're not playing, you're learning and will be a way better player."

England have already made changes to their batting line-up for the first Test against New Zealand, following the 4-1 defeat in Australia.

Durham's Emilio Gay will make his Test debut at the top of the order, at the expense of the omitted Zak Crawley.

Uncapped Somerset left-hander James Rew is in the England squad as batting cover and would be the beneficiary if Bethell is ruled out.