Jacob Bethell has pushed back against the criticism he has been receiving for not featuring regularly in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Former England captain Sir Alastair Cook has publicly suggested that Bethell should abandon his IPL commitments and return to county cricket, but the 22‑year‑old batsman remains convinced that staying in India is the best move for his development at this stage of his career. Bethell burst onto the international scene with a century in the final Test of the 2023‑24 Ashes series at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
That knock, scored in January, offered a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing Ashes campaign for England and cemented Bethell’s reputation as a potential future star. He reinforced that perception a few months later when he produced a dazzling 105 in the T20 World Cup semi‑final against India in March.
Those two innings have been the only competitive matches he has played since the IPL began, as he has yet to break into the playing XI for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) side. To date, Bethell has spent six IPL fixtures on the bench while head coach Andy Flower has opted for fellow England players Phil Salt, Tim David, Romario Shepherd and the fast‑bowling all‑rounder Josh Hazlewood as his overseas selections. The lack of game time has drawn parallels with Bethell’s previous season, when his IPL involvement delayed his start to the English domestic season and ultimately cost him a chance to overtake Ollie Pope in the national pecking order before the Ashes were lost. Cook has not minced words, arguing that Bethell should consider returning to Warwickshire, where he could get regular county cricket, instead of "sitting on his a***" in the IPL.
On the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Bethell responded with a measured view: "I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way to do it. I think we saw last year that by not playing cricket for a while I came into the end of that India series a bit undercooked, which was a learning experience for me." He went on to compare his current situation with the period after his previous IPL stint: "When I came back from the IPL last year I was flying into the West Indies series.
I feel I’m in a similar position now. I feel better now than I was a month ago after the World Cup, simply because I’ve been spending time with the guys here and the standard of cricket in India and the IPL is very high." Bethell explained that the environment in India offers benefits that are not immediately obvious to outsiders.
"It’s something many people won’t understand until they are 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.
Even if you’re not in the starting XI, or even the starting XII as the impact‑player rule now allows, you still feel that pressure and the drive to improve." The situation is reminiscent of England opener Ben Duckett, who recently terminated a contract with the Delhi Capitals to return to Nottinghamshire and safeguard his Test place. However, a premature exit from RCB appears unlikely for Bethell, especially as the franchise sits comfortably in the IPL standings and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) already have an agreement in place concerning player availability. Cook believes Bethell demonstrated during the Sydney Test that he could solve England’s opening‑batting dilemma, a role that may become available if Zak Crawley is eventually displaced. "The way he played at Sydney against that 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. Yet he added a note of caution: "It’s not ideal, is it? Bethell shouldn’t really be it because he’s not opening.
He’s sitting on his a*** at the IPL not doing anything. Ideally he could come back and open for Warwickshire to help England." Financially, Bethell’s IPL contract is worth roughly £250,000, and he acknowledges that even the practice sessions in India carry intense scrutiny.
"You have hundreds of eyes on you – coaches, teammates, fans with phones recording every movement. It’s a huge exposure. You might not get as many minutes as you would in the County Championship, but the ability to keep working under that spotlight is vital for my growth," he said.
He also highlighted the structured practice matches that the RCB squad arranges when they are not playing. "It isn’t the same as a competitive game, but we still get quality sessions. The whole squad is pulling together to win the trophy again, and players like Jordan Cox are not left on the sidelines.
In short, there is no single right way. I firmly believe this is what I need to do right now." Bethell’s unbeaten 142 at the SCG was one of the few bright moments in England’s 4‑1 Ashes defeat, earning him praise from Cook, who labelled him "the future of England cricket" after only his sixth Test.
The performance sparked talk of moving him up the order to open, which could open a place for Somerset’s 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 really like the position. There isn’t a massive difference between three and the top.
Joe Root started opening and then moved back to number four, so if England want me to open I’d be happy to do it. But I love batting at three and would love to cement that spot as mine if possible." He also addressed the criticism regarding his lack of a first‑class hundred before his Sydney heroics. "There was a lot of talk about me not having a first‑class hundred, but I never paid much attention to that. I’ve always performed better against stronger opposition, and that’s reflected in my scores against top teams and quality bowlers.
I’ve had three centuries in ODIs and T20Is, but there have also been lean patches. Last English summer wasn’t great for me, then I topped it with a hundred, followed by low scores in New Zealand before the Ashes, which left me a bit out of touch. From the outside it may look smooth sailing, but I’ve experienced ups and downs and learned a lot from spending a year on the road.
Those standout moments are great, but they only make me hungrier for more." Looking ahead, England’s home summer will kick off with a three‑Test series against New Zealand from 4 June, broadcast live on Sky Sports. Whether Bethell will eventually return to county cricket or continue to fight for a spot in the IPL lineup, his conviction is clear: he believes the experience, exposure, and high‑pressure environment of the IPL are currently the right ingredients for his growth as an international cricketer.