Jacob Bethell should leave IPL, play County instead: Alastair Cook suggests as RCB batter warms bench

2 hours ago 14

Jacob Bethell is one of the most promising talents in the world and definitely the talked about one in England. The 22-year-old is the youngest centurion across formats for England and already has a hundred in an away Ashes and in a T20 World Cup semifinal. However, a couple of months after these knocks, Bethell is warming the bench in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) had picked by Bethell for around £250,000 (INR 2.60 crore) in 2024. He played two matches in IPL 2025, scoring a fifty on his debut. However, since then, he hasn’t been able to find a place. RCB have opted to pick another Englishman Phil Salt over him with Tim David, Romario Shepherd and Josh Hazlewood being the other overseas picks.

Bethell has warmed the bench for nearly a month. In the meantime, the County Championship has commenced. His team, Warwickshire, has played 3 matches and are placed second in Division One at the moment. But, Bethell isn’t playing. Either in England or in India.

Former England Test captain Alastair Cook isn’t pleased with this. He has no problem that Bethell has gone to play for RCB in the IPL. But isn’t happy that he’s warming the bench. He could’ve easily played red-ball cricket, improved his game and cemented that number three spot, perhaps even opening the innings come the New Zealand series, which kicks off on June 4.

“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 on the Stick to Cricket podcast. “(But) it’s not ideal, is it? Bethell shouldn’t really be it because he’s not opening. He’s sitting on his arse at the IPL, not doing anything. Ideally, he could come back and open for Warwickshire to help England,” he added.