Kevin Pietersen has reignited his long-standing rivalry with Sir Alastair Cook by taking issue with the former England captain's recent comments about Jacob Bethell's involvement in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Cook suggested that the young all‑rounder should abandon the IPL and return to Warwickshire to play county cricket, accusing him of "sitting on his a***" while not contributing on the field for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Pietersen, who was excluded from the England set‑up during Cook's tenure as captain after the 2013‑14 Ashes, countered that Cook's lack of personal experience in the IPL makes his opinion irrelevant.
In a series of posts on X, Pietersen wrote, "Alastair Cook has absolutely NO IDEA what it's like to be in the IPL – to be surrounded by the best players in the world day in, day out. So his view on Jacob Bethell doesn't matter at all.
Stay in India, Jacob. Even if you're not getting game time, you are learning and will emerge as a far better player." He later added, "If county cricket were as strong as it was in the late 1990s and early 2000s, I might also want Bethell back in England now. But it isn’t, and England will benefit more from him staying in India, where he is already showing progress." Bethell has enjoyed a breakout period in recent months, cementing his place in England's top order across Tests, ODIs and T20s after scoring a crucial hundred in the Ashes at Sydney and playing a key role in the T20 World Cup semi‑final against India.
Despite being on the sidelines for RCB's first six matches, the 23‑year‑old is earning roughly £250,000 from his IPL contract and has defended his decision to stay in India rather than return to Edgbaston. Speaking on the Sky Cricket podcast, Bethell explained, "I firmly believe this is the right thing for me right now. After the World Cup, being around the guys here and experiencing the sheer standard of cricket in the IPL has helped me feel better than I did a month ago. Every net session, there are hundreds of eyes on you – coaches, opposition players, fans with phones recording every shot.
That exposure is invaluable." His 154 from the number‑three position in January, which capped England's difficult tour of Australia, has put him in contention for the opening Test of the summer against New Zealand at Lord's on June 4. Some pundits have even floated the idea of moving him up the order to open, potentially displacing Zak Crawley and opening a spot for in‑form Somerset wicket‑keeper‑batter James Rew in the middle order. Bethell said he would prefer to stay at "first drop" but is ready to adapt to the team's needs, recalling how Joe Root was shifted to open to accommodate a returning Pietersen ahead of the 2013 Ashes. "I'd love to stay at three if I could – I really like that position.
I don’t think there’s a massive difference between three and the top order. Someone like Root had to start opening and then moved back down, so if the team wants me to open, I’ll be happy to do it. But I do love batting at three and would like to cement that spot," he told the podcast. England opener Ben Duckett recently turned down a contract with the Delhi Capitals to play for Nottinghamshire and protect his Test prospects, but Bethell appears committed to seeing his IPL stint through.
RCB are currently well‑placed in the league table, and an agreement already exists between the franchise and the England and Wales Cricket Board regarding player availability. Cook, while acknowledging Bethell's impressive performance in Sydney against a strong attack, expressed concern about his lack of regular match practice.
On the Stick to Cricket podcast he said, "Based on what I saw in Sydney, I’m convinced Bethell could open. If he can bat at three, he can open.
But it’s not ideal – he’s not opening for Warwickshire, he’s basically sitting on his a*** at the IPL not playing. Ideally he could return and open for Warwickshire to help England." Bethell countered that even the net sessions in India carry significant pressure.
"You might not get the same amount of time in the middle as you would in a four‑round County Championship, but having hundreds of eyes on you in the nets is crucial for my development. The practice matches we have when we’re not playing are not the same as a competitive game, but they keep the squad together and focused on winning the trophy again. Even England international Jordan Cox isn’t left idle on the sidelines," he explained. His unbeaten 142 at the Sydney Cricket Ground was a rare highlight in England’s 4‑1 Ashes defeat, and Cook praised him as "the future of England cricket" after that innings, which came in only his sixth Test.
The performance sparked debate about whether Bethell should be promoted to open, which would also free a spot for Rew. Bethell reflected on his journey, noting that critics often point to the fact he had not scored a first‑class hundred before his heroics in Sydney.
"There was a lot of talk about the lack of a first‑class hundred, but I never let that distract me. I’ve always performed better against stronger opposition, and that’s evident in my scores against top teams.
My three centuries – one in ODIs, one in T20Is and the one in Tests – show I can deliver. There have been lean patches, like a tough English summer last year followed by a low‑score series in New Zealand before the Ashes, but those ups and downs have taught me resilience," he said. He concluded, "From the outside it might look like smooth sailing, but the reality is a series of highs and lows that have helped me grow. Those standout moments fuel my hunger for more." England’s home summer, beginning with a three‑Test series against New Zealand from June 4, will be broadcast on Sky Sports, with streaming options available on NOW for those without a Sky subscription.