Jacob Bethell has pushed back against the growing criticism surrounding his limited involvement in the Indian Premier League, a debate that intensified after former England captain Sir Alastair Cook suggested the young batter should consider returning to county cricket. Bethell’s recent achievements have been impressive: he scored a century in the final Test at Sydney in January, providing a rare bright spot in England’s otherwise dismal Ashes campaign, and then followed that up with a spectacular 105 in the T20 World Cup semi‑final against India in March.
Those two innings have cemented his reputation as a rising star, yet they also represent his last competitive knocks, as he has not yet broken into the playing XI for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru side. To date, Bethell has spent six IPL matches on the bench, watching his teammates take the field while head coach Andy Flower has preferred other overseas options – Phil Salt, Tim David, Romario Shepherd and Josh Hazlewood – over the 22‑year‑old. The situation mirrors the previous season, when Bethell’s IPL commitments delayed his start to the domestic season and ultimately prevented him from overtaking Ollie Pope in England’s batting hierarchy before the Ashes were already lost.
Cook has been outspoken, urging Bethell to head back to Warwickshire and stop "sitting on his a***" while missing out on valuable match practice. During a recent episode of the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Bethell offered his perspective. He said there is no single "right" or "wrong" path for a player in his position, pointing out that a short break from competitive cricket after the India series left him feeling under‑prepared for the final stages of that tour.
He reflected that the pause was a learning experience, but also highlighted how his form rebounded after returning from the IPL the previous year, when he entered the West Indies series in excellent shape. "I feel better now than I did a month after the World Cup," he explained, crediting the daily training environment in India and the high standard of the tournament.
"Even when you’re not in the starting XI, the intensity of the squad pushes you to improve subconsciously." Bethell’s comments come at a time when England opener Ben Duckett recently terminated his contract with the Delhi Capitals to re‑join Nottinghamshire and safeguard his Test prospects. By contrast, Bethell appears unlikely to abandon his IPL contract, which reportedly pays him around £250,000. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru are comfortably placed in the league table, and the England and Wales Cricket Board already has an agreement in place regarding player availability for the tournament.
Cook remains convinced that Bethell’s performance in Sydney demonstrated his ability to address England’s opening‑bat problems, especially with Zak Crawley’s place under scrutiny. On the "Stick to Cricket" podcast, Cook praised Bethell’s technique against a hostile attack in challenging conditions, stating, "If he can bat at number three, he can certainly open." However, he also warned that Bethell’s current lack of match practice is far from ideal. "He’s not opening because he’s not playing.
He’s sitting on his a*** at the IPL," Cook said, adding that a return to Warwickshire could provide the regular innings England needs. Despite the criticism, Bethell defended the value of the experience he is gaining off the field.
He noted that even practice sessions in India come with intense scrutiny: "There are hundreds of eyes on you – coaches, teammates, fans with phones filming every move. That pressure helps you develop mental resilience," he said. While acknowledging that net practice cannot fully replace the rigour of a County Championship match, he argued that the exposure to a high‑calibre environment is beneficial for his long‑term growth. "The squad is united in its aim to win the trophy again, and even those not in the playing XI are contributing to the team effort," Bethell added, mentioning that England youngster Jordan Cox is also being kept involved.
Bethell’s unbeaten 142 at the Sydney Cricket Ground remains one of the few highlights of England’s 4‑1 Ashes defeat, and Sir Alastair Cook has repeatedly labelled him "the future of England cricket". After that performance – only his sixth Test – discussions emerged about moving him up the order to open, which would also open a slot for Somerset wicket‑keeper James Rew. Bethell, however, expressed a preference for batting at number three: "I love the number three position. It’s not a huge leap from opening, and I’d be happy to stay there if the team wants me to," he said.
He cited the example of Joe Root, who transitioned from opener to number four early in his career, as a precedent for flexibility. When asked about his lack of a first‑class hundred before the Sydney heroics, Bethell shrugged off the criticism. "People talked about the fact I hadn’t scored a first‑class hundred before, but I never let that affect me," he said. He believes he performs best against top‑quality opposition and that his three international centuries – in ODIs, T20Is and Tests – illustrate his ability to rise to the occasion.
He admitted that his form has fluctuated, noting a modest English summer followed by low scores in New Zealand before the Ashes, but he views those dips as learning opportunities. "It’s been a roller‑coaster, but those ups and downs have taught me how to handle pressure on the road," he reflected. Looking ahead, Bethell remains optimistic about his role in England’s upcoming summer programme, which kicks off with a three‑Test series against New Zealand on June 4.
He believes the experience he is gaining in India, even without regular match time, will ultimately benefit both his personal development and England’s long‑term plans. "There’s no single correct way to do this," he concluded. "I firmly believe staying in the IPL right now is the right move for me, and I’ll keep working hard wherever I am."