England cricketer Jacob Bethell has responded to criticism regarding his limited playing time in the Indian Premier League, with former England captain Sir Alastair Cook suggesting he should consider returning to county cricket. Bethell has been with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru but has yet to feature in a match, instead watching from the sidelines as his teammates take to the field.
The 22-year-old believes that being part of the IPL, even if not playing, is beneficial for his development as he learns from the high standard of cricket and the pressure of being in a competitive environment. Bethell's most recent competitive innings was his century in the T20 World Cup semi-final against India in March, and he is keen to continue his growth as a player. Despite Cook's concerns that Bethell's lack of match time could hinder his chances of opening for England, Bethell is confident in his abilities and feels that his time at the IPL is valuable. He earns around £250,000 from his IPL deal and believes that even the net sessions outside of matches have pressure, which helps him prepare for future games.
Bethell is determined to make the most of his time at the IPL and is not considering an early exit, despite the concerns raised by Cook and others.