Jacob Bethell’s IPL 2026 campaign may have ended abruptly, but England have received encouraging news ahead of their upcoming Test series against New Zealand. The young batter is expected to recover in time for the first Test at Lord’s despite suffering a finger injury during his stint with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
Bethell returned to England last week after injuring his left ring finger while fielding during RCB’s clash against Punjab Kings on May 17. The injury forced the 22-year-old out of the IPL playoffs and left RCB scrambling for combinations at the top of the order.
RCB had initially confirmed that Bethell would fly home for further medical assessment before England’s Test summer. However, as per BBC, a scan was conducted on Tuesday, and while England will continue monitoring him, the left-hander is currently expected to feature at number three against New Zealand.
Bethell had emerged as one of the few positives during England’s disastrous Ashes tour earlier this year, scoring a breakthrough century in Sydney against Australia. If declared fit, the Lord’s Test on June 4 will mark the first time Bethell bats at number three in a home Test match.
Bethell’s injury created headache for RCB during IPL playoffs
Bethell’s injury came at a difficult moment for RCB. The Englishman had played seven matches for the franchise after coming in as cover for fellow England batter Phil Salt, who himself had struggled with a finger injury earlier in the season. While Bethell didn’t contribute much for RCB, he is considered as one of the best young talents across the globe. His highest score across seven innings was 27.
With Bethell ruled out and Salt not fully fit before Qualifier 1 against Gujarat Titans, RCB were forced into an unusual move. For only the second time in IPL history, the franchise fielded an all-Indian top-five batting lineup during their playoff win over GT. The first time came in the previous match against SRH, a game that will be remembered for Virat Kohli’s ignored handshake with Travis Head.
England vs New Zealand Test series schedule
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 4-8, 2026 | 1st Test | Lord’s, London | 3:30 PM |
| June 17-21, 2026 | 2nd Test | Kennington Oval, London | 3:30 PM |
| June 25-29, 2026 | 3rd Test | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | 3:30 PM |
England will also be without Jofra Archer for the opening Test, with the fast bowler unavailable after his IPL season with Rajasthan Royals.
