Jacob Bethell finally gets a game for RCB after Cook vs Pietersen IPL debate
IPL 2026, RCB vs GT: Jacob Bethell replaced Phil Salt as Royal Challengers Bengaluru made just one change for their clash against Gujarat Titans on Friday. His inclusion comes amid a fiery debate between Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook over his role in the IPL.
Jacob Bethell has finally earned his opportunity in IPL 2026, having been named in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s XI for their clash against Gujarat Titans on Friday, April 24 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. He replaced Phil Salt, who missed out due to injury. At the toss, skipper Rajat Patidar confirmed that Bethell was the only change to the side.
Bethell’s inclusion comes amid a heated debate between former England batters Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen. With the youngster previously warming the bench, Cook had suggested that regular game time in England would better aid his development rather than sitting out in the IPL.
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“He should be back playing county cricket rather than sitting on his a*** at the IPL not doing anything,” Cook said on the Stick to Cricket podcast.
However, Pietersen, part of the IPL 2026 commentary panel, strongly disagreed. He defended Bethell’s decision to stay in India, arguing that the IPL environment provides invaluable learning opportunities even from the sidelines despite Cook urging him to return to county cricket.
“Alastair Cook has absolutely NO IDEA what it’s like to be in the IPL,” Pietersen wrote on X.
Back in the 2025 mega auction, RCB bought Bethell for Rs 2.60 and he played only two games that season where he scored 67 runs at an average of 33.50.
RCB are currently third on the table with eight points and a net run rate of +1.171, having won four of their six matches. They will be looking to bounce back from a six-wicket defeat to Delhi Capitals.
Playing XIs for RCB vs GT
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam Dar
Impact Player: Jacob Bethell, Jordan Cox, Mangesh Yadav, Vicky Ostwal, Venkatesh Iyer
Gujarat Titans: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Jos Buttler(w), Washington Sundar, Shahrukh Khan, Jason Holder, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj
Impact Sub: Prasidh Krishna, Anuj Rawat, Glenn Phillips, Nishant Sindhu, Arshad Khan
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