England batter Jacob Bethell has defended his choice to remain with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL despite limited playing time. He spoke ahead of the team's match against Mumbai Indians on Sunday.
The 22-year-old, who has featured in just six matches during his two-year stint with the 2025 IPL champions, credited the league for improving his batting across formats. Bethell entered the playing XI this season only after compatriot Phil Salt suffered an injury.
Bethell addressed comments from former England captain Alastair Cook, who suggested in April that the batter would benefit more from County cricket with Warwickshire. Kevin Pietersen countered that exposure to top players in the IPL would aid development.
"Everyone thinks differently, but from a personal point of view, I think I’ve made the right decision," Bethell told reporters. "This is the marquee tournament of the year, with pretty much all of the best cricketers in the world playing in it."
He added that he does not believe the IPL will hinder his progress. "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," Bethell said.
