Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes Jacob Bethell should leave the Royal Challengers Bengaluru setup and return to England if he is not going to feature as a first-choice option for the remaining IPL games. Vaughan’s view came soon after Bethell was left out of RCB’s playing XI for their last league outing, with injury concerns cited.
Quick facts
- Michael Vaughan urged Jacob Bethell to return to England if he is not set to play for RCB in the remaining matches.
- Bethell was ruled out of RCB’s final league match against Sunrisers Hyderabad due to a finger injury.
- RCB captain Rajat Patidar said Bethell was sidelined at the toss, with Patidar returning to the XI as the replacement.
- Vaughan noted England’s Test match on June 4 and said Bethell should be assessed for fitness ahead of that window, including potential availability for a Test against New Zealand.
- Alastair Cook had earlier made a similar point, encouraging Bethell to focus on red-ball development by returning home.
- Zaheer Khan suggested Bethell might be reluctant to take a pay reduction as RCB were heading into the playoffs.
- Vaughan responded that Bethell could “miss a week,” implying he should prioritise the England training camp.
Vaughan’s comments followed RCB’s decision to leave Bethell out when the franchise faced Sunrisers Hyderabad in their final league match. At the toss, RCB captain Rajat Patidar confirmed Bethell was unavailable due to a finger injury, and Patidar himself came back into the lineup as the replacement.
Speaking with Cricbuzz, Vaughan said that if Bethell’s issue was genuine, the sensible move would be to travel back to England on the next available flight. He added that with a Test scheduled for June 4, England would want to take a close look at the player’s condition and determine whether he is fit or likely to be fit for the Test against New Zealand.
Vaughan also played down the idea that the youngster must stay until the tournament ends. He argued that RCB’s situation is separate from England’s immediate requirements, pointing to the England training camp coming up next week, and said Bethell would be better off returning to the UK for proper evaluation.
He further emphasised his belief in the value of the IPL for young players, noting that participating helps them develop significantly. At the same time, Vaughan said he understood the pressures and opportunities that exist inside a franchise dressing room—yet maintained that injury management should come first if Bethell is not going to play.
Development vs availability
Vaughan referenced Bethell’s recent experience with England in the past, saying the youngster had been with the setup last year and had learned a lot. This season, Vaughan felt Bethell had not enjoyed a major run of success, and he linked that assessment to the need for appropriate red-ball work if the finger problem is limiting his IPL role.
He added that England’s camp is expected to begin after Baz McCullum’s arrival in the UK on Sunday morning, with the training group starting on Monday. In Vaughan’s view, Bethell should return to the UK and be with the England unit for that phase.
Former India pace bowler Zaheer Khan, who was also part of the discussion panel, raised a different angle—suggesting Bethell may not want to accept a pay reduction. The reason, Khan implied, was that RCB were still in contention for the playoffs, which can influence how players weigh short absences.
Vaughan’s reply was quick and direct. He said Bethell had been in the environment “enough” already and that missing a week should be manageable, underlining his main message that the England camp and fitness check should take priority over staying put with RCB.
