England’s young all-rounder Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan due to a hamstring injury sustained during the ongoing ODI series against India.
The left-handed batter, who made his ODI debut in September 2023, injured his hamstring during the first match of the series in Nagpur, despite a strong performance where he scored 51 runs and took a crucial wicket of Shreyas Iyer. Bethell has since been ruled out of the remainder of the series, and Tom Banton has been called up to replace him for the second ODI.
England captain Jos Buttler confirmed Bethell’s injury setback, saying it was “disappointing” for the 21-year-old, especially after his promising performance. “It’s a shame that injury is going to rule him out,” Buttler remarked following England’s four-wicket defeat.
While England has not yet issued an official statement regarding Bethell’s exclusion from the Champions Trophy, Buttler’s comments strongly suggest the young all-rounder will not be fit in time for the tournament.
Tom Banton, who has played six ODIs with a top score of 58, will join the squad for the final match in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. England’s opening match of the Champions Trophy is scheduled against World Cup winners Australia on February 22.
