Jacob Bethell and Virat Kohli (Source: AP)Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have suffered a major setback ahead of the IPL 2026 playoffs. The young England batter Jacob Bethell was officially ruled out of the remainder of the season due to a finger injury.RCB confirmed the development on May 23 through a social media post and also revealed that Jacob Bethell has returned to England for further medical assessment.The 22-year-old sustained an injury to his left ring finger during RCB's league clash against Punjab Kings on May 17. He subsequently missed RCB’s final league-stage match against Sunrisers Hyderabad and will now also miss the playoffs.Now the next question is - Will RCB retain Jacob Bethell for IPL 2027, or could the franchise release him after an underwhelming campaign?RCB's new message hints at Jacob Bethell's futureDespite Bethell failing to make a major impact this season, RCB may already have dropped a strong hint regarding his future. In an emotional farewell video shared by the franchise, the team captioned the message with: "Not a goodbye, it's just a ‘see you later".The video ended with a line that immediately caught the attention of fans: "SEE YOU NEXT YEAR JB002."Also Read: RCB's Jacob Bethell IPL Chit-Chat Gets Fresh UpdateThat statement has led many to believe that RCB will likely continue backing the talented English batter for another season rather than releasing him ahead of IPL 2027.Watch the video here:Not a goodbye, it’s just a ‘see you later’. ❤️Recover well, Bethell. RCB 12th Man Army will be rooting for you everytime you step out on the field wherever you play.Royal Challengers Bengaluru @RCBTweets Not a goodbye, it’s just a ‘see you later’. ❤️ Recover well, Bethell. RCB 12th Man Army will be rooting for you everytime you step out on the field wherever you play. 🫶 May 23, 2026, 10:54 PM Jacob Bethell featured in 7 matches during IPL 2026, mostly as a replacement after Phil Salt suffered a finger injury earlier in the tournament.However, the youngster struggled to consistently deliver with the bat, scoring only 96 runs at a strike rate of 124.67.Phil Salt returns at perfect time for RCBWhile Bethell's injury has been a blow for RCB, the return of Phil Salt has arrived as a huge positive for the defending champions ahead of Qualifier 1 against Gujarat Titans.Interestingly, both of RCB's England openers dealt with finger injuries during the IPL 2026 season. Salt had earlier returned to England after suffering a similar issue and missed several matches. However, he has now recovered and rejoined the squad ahead of the playoffs.Even though RCB lost their final league-stage match against Hyderabad by 55 runs, the side still finished on top of the points table under captain Rajat Patidar. That top-two finish gives them an important safety net, as they will get another chance to reach the final even if they lose Qualifier 1.Will RCB miss Jacob Bethell? Sakshi’s opinion (Conclusion)In my opinion, RCB may not miss Bethell during the playoffs, especially because Phil Salt has returned at exactly the right moment. On the other hand, Jacob Bethell undoubtedly has talent, but he never truly managed to settle into a rhythm this season.Another important factor is the strong opening combination RCB tried in their previous game against SRH. The pair of Virat Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer gave Bengaluru an excellent start by adding a quick 60-run partnership.So, if Phil Salt is fully fit, he will most likely walk straight back into the side. But even if RCB decides not to rush him immediately, Bengaluru already have a backup opening option (Virat Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer) that looked effective in their last outing.Also Read: Did Jasprit Bumrah Hit Back At Ram Charan With Yash Move?
