Jacob Bethell has pushed back against the criticism he has been receiving for the limited playing time he has had in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Former England captain Sir Alastair Cook has publicly suggested that Bethell should consider heading back to county cricket with Warwickshire instead of remaining on the sidelines in the IPL. Bethell’s response, however, indicates that he believes his current path is appropriate for his development and that the experience he is gaining, even when not in the starting XI, is valuable. Bethell’s most recent high‑profile innings came in the final Test of the 2023‑24 Ashes series in Sydney, where he compiled a patient 105 that helped England avoid a complete whitewash.
Earlier in the year, he also produced a spectacular 105 in the T20 World Cup semi‑final against India, cementing his reputation as a rising star. Those two innings have been the only competitive knocks he has recorded in the past year, as he has not yet broken into the playing XI for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) side in the IPL.
To date, Bethell has been part of six IPL matches, but most of his involvement has been as a squad member watching from the bench. Head coach Andy Flower has consistently favored other overseas options—Phil Salt, Tim David, Romario Shepherd and Josh Hazlewood—leaving Bethell on the periphery.
The 22‑year‑old now finds himself in a situation reminiscent of the previous season, when his IPL commitments delayed his participation in the early stages of the English domestic campaign. That delay arguably cost him a chance to overtake Ollie Pope in the England hierarchy before the Ashes were already lost. Cook’s argument is straightforward: Bethell should return to county cricket, where he can get regular match practice, rather than “sitting on his a***” in the IPL.
During a recent episode of the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Bethell offered a measured reply. He said there is no single "right" or "wrong" way to manage his career, and that the lessons he learned from a period of reduced playing time after the India series were valuable.
He reflected that the lack of match practice left him a little under‑cooked for the final leg of the India series, but that the experience of being in India and training with a high‑calibre squad has helped him grow. "I think we saw last year, for me personally, that by not playing cricket for a little while, I came into the end of that India series a bit undercooked, which was a learning for me to take on board," Bethell said. "But actually, if you look at where I was last year after coming back from the IPL, I was flying, going into that West Indies series and I feel in a similar position now." He continued, emphasizing that the environment in India has a subtle but powerful influence on a player’s mindset. "It just has a completely different feel.
It feels like everyone almost ups their game subconsciously without even really knowing because of the calibre of the tournament," he explained. Even when not in the starting XI—or even the new "impact player" role—Bethell feels the intensity of the competition pushes him to improve. The situation is not unique to Bethell. England opener Ben Duckett recently terminated a contract with the Delhi Capitals to return to Nottinghamshire and safeguard his Test place.
By contrast, Bethell appears reluctant to abandon his IPL contract, which reportedly pays him around £250,000. He argues that the pressure of training under constant scrutiny—coaches, teammates, and a sea of smartphones in the stands—offers a different kind of development that cannot be replicated in county cricket. "You've got hundreds of eyes on you, albeit you either have your coaches or the other players who are also looking at you going, 'is this guy good?
Is he not?' You got the people in the crowd with the phones on," he said. "I think you get exposed to a lot of stuff." Bethell also highlighted the structured practice sessions that RCB has arranged, noting that while they are not the same as a full competitive match, they still provide valuable match‑like scenarios.
He praised the squad’s collective effort to win the trophy again and stressed that senior England players such as Jordan Cox are not left idle on the sidelines. Cook, speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast, reiterated his belief that Bethell has the technical ability to open the England innings. He cited Bethell’s performance in Sydney against a potent Australian attack as evidence that he could handle the top‑order role. However, Cook also expressed concern that Bethell’s lack of regular cricket could hinder his progress.
"For that top order batting, the way he played at Sydney, against that attack, in those conditions - I've looked at a player there and I'm certain this bloke can open. If he can bat three, he can open," Cook said. "But 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." Bethell’s own view of his role is clear. He prefers to bat at number three, where he feels most comfortable, but he is willing to adapt if England need him to open.
"I'd love to stay at three, if it's up to me. I really like the position.
Someone like Root had to start opening the batting and then kind of sit back down into number four. So if that's what they want me to do, I'd be more than happy to do it," he said. He also addressed the criticism regarding his lack of a first‑class hundred before his heroics in Sydney. Bethell dismissed the debate, pointing out that he has consistently performed well against high‑quality opposition, as shown by his centuries in both ODIs and T20 internationals.
He acknowledged that his career has had ups and downs, but he believes those fluctuations have taught him resilience. "There was obviously a lot of talk around the no first‑class hundred or whatever, but I never paid that too much attention," he explained.
"I felt like I've always played better against better opposition, and that's shown a bit in terms of, I like playing against great teams and taking on good bowlers." Looking ahead, Bethell remains optimistic about his place in the England setup. He sees the IPL experience as a long‑term investment in his skill set, even if it means occasional periods without match play. He concluded, "In short, I think there's no right way. I firmly believe that this is the thing for me to be doing right now." The broader context is that RCB are well‑placed in the IPL standings, and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) already has an agreement with the IPL regarding player availability.
This makes an early departure less likely, especially when the franchise is still in contention for the title. Bethell’s unbeaten 142 at the Sydney Cricket Ground remains one of the few bright spots in England’s 4‑1 Ashes loss, and it earned him praise from Cook, who called him "the future of England cricket". While discussions continue about whether Bethell should be promoted to open the innings—potentially opening a spot for Somerset wicket‑keeper‑batter James Rew—the young batsman has made it clear that his priority is to keep improving, whether that happens in India, in county cricket, or on the international stage. In summary, Jacob Bethell is standing firm on his decision to stay with the IPL, arguing that the high‑pressure environment, the quality of training, and the exposure to elite competition are all essential components of his development.
Sir Alastair Cook and other critics advocate for a return to county cricket to secure regular match practice, but Bethell believes that the experience he is gaining, even when not playing, is invaluable for his long‑term growth and for England’s future success.