When Jacob Bethell delivered a remarkable performance in the 2026 T20 World Cup semi-final against India, nearly leading England to an unexpected victory, it was assumed he would easily secure a spot in future T20 teams. While this might be accurate for many, Bethell’s situation with his IPL 2026 squad, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), is more complex.
RCB acquired Bethell for INR 2.60 crore before IPL 2025 and kept him for the upcoming season. Although he shone with a 55 runs off 33 balls against Chennai Super Kings in two matches, his opportunities were limited due to RCB’s established overseas lineup. Bethell’s reputation has soared since IPL 2025, highlighted by a century in an Ashes Test against Australia, his first ODI century against South Africa, and being England’s top run-scorer in the 2026 T20 World Cup with 280 runs at a strike rate of 152.17.
However, RCB has retained most of their overseas players from the previous season, many of whom played key roles in their first title. Thus, the question arises: Should Bethell be included in RCB’s starting XI given his current form? If so, who should be left out? Let’s examine the possibilities.
Remove Padikkal or Salt to Feature Bethell at the Top
The most straightforward option is to utilize Bethell’s current form at the top of the order. This would entail dropping Phil Salt, who struggled in the T20 World Cup with only 130 runs across eight innings but was vital for RCB’s success last season as their second-highest run-scorer. RCB’s cricket director, Mo Bobat, expressed confidence in Salt’s abilities, suggesting he would likely remain a starter.
Bobat stated, “I have no concerns about Salt’s performance. He ranks among the top T20 batters globally. His confidence is high, and he enjoys his time with RCB.” He also mentioned Salt’s partnership with Virat Kohli as something to look forward to when the season begins.
As for the No. 3 position, Devdutt Padikkal, who scored 247 runs in ten innings before a hamstring injury last season, has also performed admirably. He netted 309 runs in six innings during the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, showcasing a remarkable strike rate of 167.02. This raises the question: Will RCB gamble on dropping Padikkal?
Bethell in Place of David/Shepherd
Another potential adjustment is to position Bethell in the middle or lower order, a role he’s more accustomed to in T20. This would require RCB to drop either Tim David or Romario Shepherd.
David posted an impressive strike rate of 203.22 in the death overs of IPL 2025, making significant contributions, while Shepherd has been pivotal for RCB, notably hitting an unbeaten 53 off just 14 balls against CSK last season. With Shepherd also providing crucial bowling options, especially given RCB’s limited bowling resources, it may prove difficult to replace him.
Utilizing All Four: Salt, Bethell, David, and Shepherd
Including Salt, Bethell, David, and Shepherd in the same lineup is an option, although it comes with significant risk. To make this work, RCB would need to release one overseas bowler. Jacob Duffy seems likely to fill in for Josh Hazlewood, who is sidelined for the early part of the season due to workload management. If the team opts to play all four, they may have to replace Duffy with an Indian bowler, likely Rasikh Salam or Mangesh Yadav, both of whom lack extensive experience at this level. With injuries affecting the bowling squad, RCB faces a dilemma regarding the composition of their bowling attack.
