Jacob Bethell takes dig on Alastair Cook who told him to play County cricket instead of IPL: 'Not many will understand'

England youngster Jacob Bethell has responded to criticism over his participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the time when county cricket is going on in his home country. The 22-year-old was advised by England great Alastair Cook to play in England instead of warming the bench in IPL. However, the youngster has made it clear that he does not agree with it.

Bethell is part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) who are gunning to defend their title in IPL. He was also part of the title-winning RCB squad last year but got to play just a couple of matches in one of which he scored a fantastic half-century. This season, he is still awaiting his first game in the league.

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That is why Cook had suggested Bethell to play for Warwickshire in the County Championship instead of "sitting on his a*** not doing anything" in the IPL.

Bethell believes IPL is the right choice

England players, especially Test cricketers, are known to prioritise their international career even if it comes at the cost of IPL. England Test captain Harry Brook is facing a two-year ban for pulling out of the league at the last moment and a similar punishment could be in store for Ben Duckett who did the same this year.

Bethell has been touted as England's next batting star and his century at last year's Ashes further solidified him as a potential Test regular. However, the left-hander has not opted to skip the IPL like his senior and he believes it is the right call.

"I feel better now than I was a month ago after the World Cup, through just getting time around the guys over here and the pure standard of cricket in India and the IPL," Bethell told Sky Sports.

Bethell said that even practicing in IPL brings more pressure due to massive eyeballs than real game time in county cricket.

"It's something that not many people will understand how cool it is until actually being around a team or the tournament itself when you're here... You might not get the amount of time in the middle as (you do) in County Championship playing four rounds of that. But I think in terms of the ability to actually just continue doing what you want to do when there are loads of eyes on you, is really important for me personally going forward," he added.

"But in short, I think there's no right way. I firmly believe that this is the thing for me to be doing right now," Bethell said.