Jacob Bethell has pushed back against the criticism surrounding his limited playing time in the Indian Premier League, a debate sparked after former England captain Sir Alastair Cook suggested the young batter should head back to county cricket. The 22‑year‑old’s recent career highlights include a century in the final Test at Sydney in January – a bright spot in an otherwise dismal Ashes tour for England – and a spectacular 105‑run knock in the T20 World Cup semi‑final against India in March. Those innings have cemented his reputation as a rising star, yet they also mark his last competitive innings to date, as he has not yet broken into the playing XI for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) side. So far, Bethell has spent six IPL matches on the bench, watching his teammates take the field.
Head coach Andy Flower has consistently opted for other overseas imports – Phil Salt, Tim David, Romario Shepherd and Josh Hazlewood – leaving Bethell on the sidelines. The situation mirrors the previous season, when his IPL commitment delayed his start to the English domestic campaign, ultimately costing him a chance to overtake Ollie Pope in the England hierarchy before the Ashes series was already lost. Cook has been blunt: he believes Bethell should consider returning to Warwickshire, his county side, rather than "sitting on his a***" without any match action in the IPL. Bethell addressed the issue on the latest Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, stating, "I don't think there's a right or wrong way to do it.
We've seen last year that taking a break from playing cricket left me a little undercooked for the final India series, and that was a lesson I took to heart." He went on to compare his current position with his post‑IPL form from the previous year. "After coming back from the IPL last season I was flying into the West Indies series.
I feel I'm in a similar spot now – better than I was a month after the World Cup because I've been spending time with the guys here and absorbing the high standard of cricket in India and the IPL," he said. Bethell argued that the environment of the IPL offers benefits that go beyond match minutes. "Being around a team or a tournament of that calibre is something not many people understand until they experience it.
The whole atmosphere pushes everyone to raise their game, even if you're not in the starting XI or even the starting XII as an impact player." The contrast with England opener Ben Duckett, who recently terminated his Delhi Capitals contract to return to Nottinghamshire and secure his Test place, highlights how unusual Bethell's decision appears. Yet RCB are comfortably placed in the league table, and the England and Wales Cricket Board already have an agreement with the franchise regarding player availability, making a mid‑season exit less likely. Cook remains convinced that Bethell has the tools to solve England's opening‑bat problems, especially as Zak Crawley’s position looks increasingly precarious. "The way he handled the Sydney attack in those conditions showed he can open.
If he can bat at three, he can open," Cook said on the Stick to Cricket podcast. However, Cook added a note of caution: "It's not ideal.
Bethell shouldn't be sitting on his a*** at the IPL. Ideally he could come back and open for Warwickshire, which would also help England." Financially, Bethell's IPL contract is worth roughly £250,000, and he acknowledges that even training sessions in India carry intense scrutiny. "There are hundreds of eyes on you – coaches, fellow players, and fans with phones filming every move. That pressure is real, and it forces you to keep improving even when you're not playing a competitive match," he explained.
He also noted that practice matches and net sessions, while not a substitute for County Championship games, still provide valuable experience: "We get practice matches when we're not in the main game. It isn’t the same as a full‑scale match, but the squad works together, and that collective effort is crucial for the trophy chase." Bethell emphasized his belief that there is no single correct path for his development. "I firmly believe this is the right thing for me right now," he concluded, underscoring his commitment to making the most of his time in India.
His unbeaten 142 at the Sydney Cricket Ground remains one of the few bright spots 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. Discussions have surfaced about promoting Bethell to the opening slot, which would free a place for Somerset wicket‑keeper‑batter James Rew. Yet Bethell has expressed a preference for batting at number three. "I love the number three position.
I don't see a massive difference between three and the top. Joe Root started opening and later moved back to four, so if the team wants me to open, I'm happy, but I'd prefer to cement my place at three," he said. When asked about his lack of a first‑class century before the Sydney heroics, Bethell shrugged off the criticism.
"There was a lot of talk about me not having a first‑class hundred, but I never focused on that. I always feel I perform better against stronger opposition, and that’s reflected in my centuries in ODIs and T20Is. There have been lean patches – a poor English summer, low scores in New Zealand – but those ups and downs teach you resilience.
Spending a year traveling and playing different formats has helped me grow, and each standout moment only fuels my hunger for more," he explained. Looking ahead, England’s summer schedule includes a three‑Test series against New Zealand starting on June 4, broadcast live on Sky Sports. Fans without a Sky subscription can stream the matches contract‑free via NOW. Bethell’s future remains a topic of lively debate, but for now he remains focused on extracting every ounce of learning from his IPL experience, confident that the exposure, pressure and high‑quality cricket environment will ultimately benefit his international ambitions.