Jacob Bethell has publicly answered the flak he’s been getting over his limited playing time in the Indian Premier League, especially after former England skipper Sir Alastair Cook suggested he should head back to county cricket. The 22‑year‑old’s recent record includes a late‑season century in the final Test at Sydney – a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing Ashes tour – and a spectacular 105‑run knock in the T20 World Cup semi‑final against India in March. Those innings remain his last competitive scores, as he has yet to break into the playing XI for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) side.
So far, Bethell has spent six IPL fixtures on the bench, with head coach Andy Flower opting for other overseas options such as Phil Salt, Tim David, Romario Shepherd and Josh Hazlewood. This mirrors the situation he faced last season, when an IPL commitment delayed his start to the English domestic campaign and effectively stalled his challenge to overtake Ollie Pope in the England hierarchy before the Ashes were already lost. Cook has been blunt, urging Bethell to consider returning to Warwickshire rather than "sitting on his a***" while doing nothing in India.
On the latest Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Bethell replied that there is no single correct path. He reflected on his own experience last year, noting that a period without cricket left him under‑prepared for the final India series, a lesson he has taken to heart. "When I came back from the IPL last year I was flying into the West Indies series, and I feel I’m in a similar spot now," he said. Bethell added that he feels stronger now than he did a month after the World Cup, thanks to the time spent training with his teammates in India and the overall standard of the IPL.
He argued that the tournament’s intensity is difficult for outsiders to appreciate unless they experience it firsthand. "Everyone seems to raise their game almost subconsciously because of the calibre of the competition," he explained, even when he is not in the starting XI or the newly introduced impact‑player slot.
The situation is reminiscent of England opener Ben Duckett, who recently abandoned a contract with the Delhi Capitals to return to Nottinghamshire and safeguard his Test place. Yet Bethell appears far from seeking an early exit; RCB sit comfortably near the top of the league table, and a player‑availability agreement with the England and Wales Cricket Board is already in place.
Cook believes Bethell proved during the Sydney Test that he could solve England’s opening‑batting dilemma, especially as Zak Crawley’s position looks increasingly tenuous. However, Cook also warned that Bethell’s lack of regular match practice is not ideal.
"He could open for Warwickshire and help England, but at the moment he’s not playing," Cook said on the Stick to Cricket podcast. "He’s sitting on his a*** at the IPL not doing anything." Financially, Bethell’s IPL contract is worth roughly £250,000, but he stresses that even training sessions in India carry immense pressure. "There are hundreds of eyes on you – coaches, teammates, fans with phones recording every move," he noted.
While practice matches cannot fully replace the rigour of a County Championship game, the intense environment helps him develop resilience under scrutiny. He described the squad’s collective effort to win the trophy again, mentioning that younger England players like Jordan Cox are not left idle on the sidelines. "It feels like a team effort, and that’s important for my development," Bethell said.
He concluded that there is no universally right approach, but he firmly believes staying in the IPL is the best thing for him at this stage of his career. Bethell’s unbeaten 142 at the Sydney Cricket Ground was one of the few highlights in England’s 4‑1 Ashes defeat, earning him praise from Cook, who called him "the future of England cricket" after only his sixth Test. This performance sparked discussions about promoting Bethell to the opening slot, which would open a place for Somerset wicket‑keeper‑batter James Rew. When asked about his preferred batting position, Bethell replied, "I’d love to stay at three if it’s up to me.
I really like the position. There isn’t a massive difference between three and the top. Joe Root started opening before moving back to four, so if the team wants me to open, I’ll be happy to do it, but I prefer number three and would love to cement that spot." He also addressed criticism over not having a first‑class century before his Sydney heroics.
"There was a lot of talk about the lack of a first‑class hundred, but I never let that bother me," Bethell said. "I’ve always performed better against stronger opposition, and my three international hundreds – in ODIs and T20s – show that I can thrive against top bowlers. There have been lean patches, like a poor English summer and low scores in New Zealand before the Ashes, but those ups and downs have taught me a lot." Bethell emphasized that his standout moments only fuel his hunger for more success.
He looks forward to the upcoming England summer, which begins with a three‑Test series against New Zealand on June 4, and encourages fans to watch live on Sky Sports or stream without a contract via NOW.