RCB star and Virat Kohli’s teammate ruled out of ICC Champions Trophy 2025, participation in IPL 2025 in doubt too?

RCB star and new teammate of Virat Kohli in the IPL team has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 starting later this month due to hamstring injury.

The list of injuries among top international cricketers keeps on increasing ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which gets underway in Pakistan and Dubai on February 19. While Team India are still fretting over the fitness of spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, their opponents in the three-match ODI series – England, have received a big blow after going down 0-2 after the second ODI.

New Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) recruit Jacob Bethell of England has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy due to a hamstring injury, England captain Jos Buttler confirmed after the second ODI in Cuttack on Sunday.

“I’m pretty sure he’s been ruled out of the Champions Trophy,” Buttler said following England’s four-wicket loss to India in the second ODI on Sunday.

“It’s really disappointing for him. He played well the other day and is one of the most exciting young players. It’s unfortunate that the injury will keep him out.”

Jacob Bethell will miss the rest of England’s white-ball tour of India and the Champions Trophy in Pakistan later this month because of a hamstring injury ❌ pic.twitter.com/iht8zZPeEF

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) February 9, 2025

The 21-year-old left-hander, who impressed with a half-century and a wicket in the first ODI in Nagpur, was unavailable for the second match. In response, England called up batter Tom Banton as cover.

Bethell had looked impressive in the first ODI in Nagpur, scoring 51 and claiming 1/18 with the ball in England’s four-wicket loss. The England all-rounder, who was bought by Virat Kohli’s RCB in the IPL 2025 mega auction last year for Rs 2.6 crore, had impressed on his maiden Test tour of New Zealand last year with three half-centuries and averaging 52 in the series.

The recovery from hamstring injury can be between days and months. With Buttler announcing that Bethell is ruled out of the Champions Trophy, it means that the left-arm spinner may have Grade 2 or 3 level injury. In the Grade 3 level hamstring injury, the recovery period could be a few months and may even require surgery.

It means that Kohli’s RCB may well miss the services of Bethell in IPL 2025 which gets underway on March 23. Meanwhile, Banton has been in fine form for Reliance Group-owned MI Emirates team in ILT20 2025 season. The English batter scored 493 in 11 matches for MI Emirates in the tournament.

The final squad submission deadline for the Champions Trophy is Wednesday, with England set to begin their campaign against Australia on February 22.