RCB’s Jacob Bethell on choosing IPL over county cricket: I think I’ve made the right decision

England batter Jacob Bethell reiterated that playing in the Indian Premier League, as part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru setup, has helped him upgrade his all-format batting.

The 22-year-old has played just six matches in his ongoing two-year stint with the 2025 champion and has found a place in the playing eleven this term only due to the injury suffered by compatriot Phil Salt.

Former England captain Alastair Cook had remarked in April that Bethell was better off playing county cricket for Warwickshire rather than warming the benches in the IPL. Kevin Pietersen, who played in India’s premier T20 tournament from 2009 to 2016 and has had stints as a mentor, dismissed the claim, adding that rubbing shoulders with the best players would be beneficial to Bethell.

“Everyone thinks differently, but from a personal point of view, I think I’ve made the right decision. This is the marquee tournament of the year, with pretty much all of the best cricketers in the world playing in it,” Bethell said while speaking to reporters ahead of the IPL 2026 clash against the Mumbai Indians in Raipur.

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“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’s allowed to think what they want, but at the end of the day, I’m pretty happy with where I am,” he added.

The young batter hasn’t had the best time with the bat in his four appearances this season, scoring just 43 runs. Bethell admits the start is not one he envisioned, but said his focus was wholly on playing the next innings well.

“I can’t lie, I’ve not got off to the start that I would have wanted. It definitely is tricky to find your rhythm when you’re not spending as much time in the middle as you would like. The main thing I’m trying to do personally is always look at what impact I can make in the next game,” Bethell said.

RCB will be in untested waters when it takes on MI in Raipur, a ground that last hosted an IPL game in 2016. Bethell says the team will have to make do with a day’s practice to get used to the conditions at the venue.

“We’ve spoken a bit about ground dimensions and other information without actually being here. Now it is about batters going out and getting a feel for the pitch, and bowlers finding the right lengths to bowl. We’re a confident team, so I think we’re going to adapt quicker,” he said.

Published on May 09, 2026