RCB vs GT, IPL 2026: Royal Challengers Bengaluru handing a chance to Jacob Bethell in the IPL 2026 clash against the Gujarat Titans on Friday (April 24) has sparked major buzz.
With Phil Salt ruled out due to injury, as confirmed by RCB captain Rajat Patidar, fans are questioning whether the move is also aimed at keeping Bethell in India instead of returning to England for county cricket - a suggestion earlier raised by former England captain Alastair Cook.
RCB vs GT, IPL 2026: What did Sir Alastair Cook say about Jacob Bethell's stint with the RCB?
Speaking in the recent Stick to Cricket podcast, Cook suggested that Bethell should return to play county cricket for Warwickshire, given RCB's settled batting unit hasn't allowed the youngster to feature in the eleven. Hence, the former Essex opener claimed that the southpaw can instead return to England to play red-ball cricket ahead of the Test series against New Zealand, beginning on June 4 at the Lord's Cricket Ground. With Patidar not mentioning the nature of Salt's injury, a few fans have suspected whether Bethell has been handed a game only to prevent him from going to play county cricket.
But Cook's former England teammate Kevin Pietersen shut him down, claiming that Bethell should stick to playing in IPL, given the best players are involved in the tournament.
RCB vs GT, IPL 2026: How many matches has Jacob Bethell played in IPL?
Bethell, who fetched a sum of ₹2.60 crore from the Royal Challengers, made his debut against the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025. But it was against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) that the left-hander announced himself, clattering a 33-ball 55 that eventually propelled RCB to a match-winning total of 213/5. But it's worth noting that Bethell is only an impact sub as of now in this game.
RCB vs GT, IPL 2026: Jacob Bethell's heroics in T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final
Meanwhile, the 22-year-old was outstanding in the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final against India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Set an enormous 254 to win, Bethell kept England in the contest for a long time with a 45-ball 100.
But the southpaw was dismissed for 105 in the 20th over of the innings with a run-out as the Men in Blue held off the tourists, winning by 7 runs.