Jacob Bethell has pushed back against the backlash he’s received for not getting much game time in the Indian Premier League, especially after former England captain Sir Alastair Cook suggested he should head back to county cricket. The 22‑year‑old’s standout innings in the final Test at Sydney in January was a late‑coming highlight of England’s disappointing Ashes campaign, and his blistering 105 in the T20 World Cup semi‑final against India in March cemented his reputation as a rising star. However, that innings remains his most recent competitive knock, as he has yet to break into the playing XI for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) side.
So far, Bethell has watched six IPL matches from the bench, with head coach Andy Flower opting for fellow England players Phil Salt, Tim David, Romario Shepherd and the fast‑bowling all‑rounder Josh Hazlewood as his overseas selections. The young batter now finds himself in a familiar predicament to last season, when his IPL commitment delayed his domestic start and ultimately kept him out of contention for an opening spot ahead of Ollie Pope, a chance that vanished as the Ashes were already lost. Cook has been blunt, urging Bethell to consider returning to Warwickshire rather than "sitting on his a***" doing nothing in the IPL. On the latest Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Bethell responded, "I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way to do it.
We saw last year that a break from cricket left me a little under‑cooked for the final India series, and that was a lesson I’ve taken on board." He went on to compare his current situation with the aftermath of his previous IPL stint. "After coming back from the IPL last year I was flying into the West Indies series, and I feel I’m in a similar spot now.
I feel better now than I did a month after the World Cup because I’ve been spending time with the guys here and soaking up the standard of cricket in India and the IPL," he said. Bethell argued that the experience of being part of a high‑quality tournament offers benefits that go beyond match minutes.
"It’s something many people won’t understand until they’re actually around a team or a tournament. The atmosphere is completely different – everyone seems to raise their game subconsciously because of the calibre of the competition. That effect happens even if you’re not in the starting XI or the new ‘impact player’ role," he explained. The situation mirrors that of England opener Ben Duckett, who recently withdrew from a contract with the Delhi Capitals to play for Nottinghamshire and safeguard his Test prospects.
Yet, an early exit for Bethell appears unlikely. RCB sit comfortably in the league table, and an agreement already exists between the franchise and the England and Wales Cricket Board regarding player availability.
Cook believes Bethell demonstrated in Sydney that he could solve England’s opening‑bat problems, especially as Zak Crawley’s position looks increasingly tenuous. "The way he handled that attack in Sydney, in those conditions, convinced me he can open. If he can bat at three, he can certainly open," Cook said on the Stick to Cricket podcast.
"But it’s not ideal – he’s not opening because he’s not playing. He’s sitting on his a*** in the IPL. Ideally he could return to Warwickshire and open there to help England." Financially, Bethell’s IPL contract is worth roughly £250,000, and he notes that even training sessions in India carry intense scrutiny. "There are hundreds of eyes on you – coaches, teammates, fans with phones recording every move.
You’re constantly being evaluated," he said. "You might not get as many overs as you would in the County Championship, but the pressure of performing under that spotlight is invaluable for my development." He added that practice matches and net sessions, while not a substitute for full games, still provide crucial exposure. "The squad is pulling together to win the trophy again, and even players like Jordan Cox aren’t left idle on the sidelines.
In short, there’s no single right path – I truly believe this is what I need to do right now." Bethell’s unbeaten 142 at the Sydney Cricket Ground was one of the few bright spots in England’s 4‑1 Ashes loss, earning Cook’s praise as "the future of England cricket" after only his sixth Test. Since then, speculation has swirled about moving him up the order to open, which could open a place for Somerset wicket‑keeper‑batter James Rew. When asked about the prospect, Bethell said, "I’d love to stay at three if it’s up to me.
I enjoy that position and don’t see a huge difference between three and the top. Joe Root started opening and then moved back to four, so if the team wants me to open, I’m happy to do it.
But I’d really like to cement my spot at three." He also addressed criticism regarding his lack of a first‑class century before the Sydney heroics. "There was a lot of talk about me not having a first‑class hundred, but I never let that affect me. I’ve always performed better against stronger opposition, and that’s reflected in my scores in ODIs and T20Is. There have been lean patches – a tough English summer last year, low scores in New Zealand before the Ashes – but those ups and downs have taught me a lot.
Spending a year on the road has helped me grow, and the standout moments only make me hungrier for more," Bethell concluded. The England summer schedule kicks off with a three‑Test series against New Zealand on June 4, broadcast live on Sky Sports, with streaming options available via NOW for those without a subscription.