Royal Challengers Bengaluru batsman Jacob Bethell has opened up about the recent debate between Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen on the role of the IPL in his career. Cook questioned Bethell’s decision to stay with RCB despite spending time on the bench. He suggested that regular county cricket for Warwickshire would help Bethell’s development more than playing games in the IPL.
However, Pietersen strongly disagreedhe insisted that being part of the IPL environment itself was invaluable for a young player like Bethell. Pietersen said training alongside elite cricketers, learning from top coaches and experiencing the pressure of franchise cricket could accelerate Bethell’s growth.
‘HAPPY WHERE I AM’
Bethell defended his decision by saying that playing alongside the best would only improve his game, while insisting he was happy with his career.
“Everyone thinks differently but personally I think I made the right decision. This is the marquee tournament of the year where almost all the best cricketers in the world are playing,” Bethell told a press conference ahead of RCB’s match against Mumbai Indians on Sunday.
“I definitely don’t think it’s going to hurt my career or stop me from getting better. I think it’s going to do the opposite. Everyone can think what they want, but at the end of the day I’m pretty happy with where I’m at,” Bethell added.
Bethell has not featured consistently for RCB in IPL 2026, scoring 43 runs in four matches at an average of 10.75 and a strike rate of 138.70. Bethell spent much of the season on the bench and only got his chance after opener Phil Salt suffered a finger injury and returned home for scans. Since then, the young England batsman has opened alongside Virat Kohli as RCB look to fill the void left by Salt’s absence.
RCB, meanwhile, have a strong chance to move to the top of the table if they beat MI in Raipur and further strengthen their grip on a playoff spot.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– The end
Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
10 May 2026 03:00 IST
