England’s Jacob Bethell Ruled Out of Champions Trophy Due to Injury

New Delhi – England’s young left-handed batsman Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of the upcoming Champions Trophy after sustaining a hamstring injury. The 21-year-old sat out England’s second ODI against India in Cuttack, where the hosts secured a 2-0 series win with one match remaining.

Bethell, who impressed with a 51-run knock in the opening match, will miss the Champions Trophy, set to begin on February 19 in Pakistan and Dubai.

Captain Jos Buttler Confirms Bethell’s Exit

Following England’s four-wicket defeat in the second ODI, captain Jos Buttler confirmed that Bethell will not recover in time for the prestigious tournament.

"I’m pretty sure Bethell has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy, to be honest. That’s really disappointing for him. He played nicely the other day and has been one of the really exciting players. It’s a shame that injury is going to rule him out," Buttler stated.

Tom Banton Called Up as Replacement

Though England has yet to release an official statement, they have already named Tom Banton as Bethell’s replacement. The 26-year-old Somerset batsman is set to arrive in India on Monday and join the squad for the final ODI in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.

Banton has six ODI caps, with a top score of 58, and averages 26.80 with the bat. His experience and aggressive playing style could provide a boost to the England squad ahead of their Champions Trophy opener against Australia on February 22.

Deadline for Squad Finalization

All participating nations must submit their final squads by February 12, meaning England’s management has a tight window to confirm Banton as an official replacement.

With Bethell sidelined, England will now focus on refining their squad balance as they prepare to take on the reigning World Cup champions, Australia, in their first Champions Trophy match.