Jacob Bethell made his first appearance of the 2026 Indian Premier League season for Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday, but was dismissed for 14 runs. Bethell's participation in the tournament had been questioned earlier in the week, with some suggesting he should return to Warwickshire to play county cricket. However, the youngster defended his decision to stay in the IPL, citing the high standard of cricket and the opportunity to learn from his teammates. Bethell was given his first chance as an 'impact player' in the game against Gujarat Titans, but his 10-ball innings was cut short when he hit a Mohammed Siraj delivery straight to the fielder at point.
Despite Bethell's early dismissal, Royal Challengers Bengaluru went on to win the match, thanks in part to a commanding 81 runs from Virat Kohli. The legendary batter struck a decisive stand with Devdutt Padikkal, leading his team to a fifth win in seven matches and moving them to second place in the table. Earlier in the match, Gujarat opener Sudharsan had struck a sublime century, scoring 100 runs off 58 balls, but his effort ultimately proved to be in vain. England's Jos Buttler also made a contribution, scoring 25 runs off 16 balls while batting at number three for Gujarat.
Bethell, who is earning around £250,000 from Royal Challengers Bengaluru, believes that being in the IPL is the right decision for him, despite not having played many matches. He feels that the experience of being around top-class players and the high standard of cricket in India is invaluable, and that it will help him improve as a player.
Bethell also pointed out that even though he may not be getting as much time in the middle as he would in the County Championship, the IPL provides a unique opportunity to play in front of a large audience and to test himself against the best players in the world.