England all-rounder will miss the entire tournament due to knee injury in the ODI series against India
England all-rounder Jacob Bethell has missed out on the Hundred 2026 following a right knee injury, marking a significant blow for him and Birmingham Phoenix ahead of the tournament.
Bethell had signed with Birmingham Phoenix for £340,000 and was to lead the team in this year’s 100-ball competition until the injury put an end to his campaign.
Knee injury ends Hundred hopes
The 22-year-old picked the injury in the ODI series between England and India recently.
Scans after the series revealed the severity of the issue, and the team officials decided that Bethell should miss the entire tournament to concentrate on his recovery.
He is expected to start a rehab program right away as he strives to get back to full fitness.
Big blow for Birmingham Phoenix
Bethell departure is a huge blow for Birmingham Phoenix, who had placed their trust in the young all-rounder by appointing him captain for the 2026 season.
The franchise had signed him to one of the highest contracts in the league, hoping that he would be able to play a pivotal role with the ball and bat and lead the team all season.
Phoenix will now have to find a new captain and make their team changes prior to the tournament.
Strong performances before injury
Bethell had a few standout performances in the white-ball series against India, despite an inconsistent performance.
He was unbeaten on 76 off 46 balls in the second T20 International before adding a stellar 91-run ODI effort in the final ODI, proving himself to be a valuable addition to England’s batting order.
Those displays had shown his increasing significance in the limited-overs format in England before he was sidelined by injury.
Focus shifts to recovery
Bethell will be closely monitored during his rehabilitation in the coming weeks with the goal of returning later in the season.
Losing The Hundred is a setback but the focus will be on making the all-rounder as good as new before he heads to England for his next international commitments.
Bethell’s departure leaves Birmingham Phoenix without one of their top players, but the player and the club will now hope to bounce back and return to action later this year.
