England rising star Jacob Bethell has been rewarded for his remarkable performance in the T20 World Cup semi-final after being named Birmingham Phoenix captain for the 2026 edition of The Hundred. The 22-year-old all-rounder then gained worldwide attention he smashed a whopping 105 off 48 balls against India in the semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Although England narrowly lost the high-scoring match by seven runs while chasing 254, Bethell’s innings was widely praised as one of the standout knocks of the tournament. After his heroics, Fénix named him captain, replacing Liam Livingstone.
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Bethell also made history last year when he became England’s youngest-ever men’s captain, breaking a 136-year-old record, when he led the team in the T20I series against Ireland, standing in for Harry Brook. Under his leadership, England secured a 2-0 series victory, marking an impressive start to his international captaincy.
“I am incredibly proud to be named captain of the Birmingham Phoenix. It is a huge honor to lead this team and it is an opportunity I am ready for, especially after my experience captaining England last year. This responsibility has taught me a lot about my own leadership and how to get the best out of a group,” said Bethell.
Bethell finished as England’s top run-scorer in the T20 World Cup, amassing 280 runs from eight matches at an average of 35 and a strike rate of 152.17, including a century and a half-century.
After his impressive campaign in the global tournament, the left-handed batsman will represent Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who signed him for Rs 2.6 crore in the 2026 Indian Premier League auction.
Bethell will now enter his fourth season with the Birmingham Phoenix after joining the franchise in 2023. The Phoenix will be looking to bounce back this year after missing the playoffs last season.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
March 10, 2026 1:35 PM IST
