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Jacob Bethell for RCB in IPL 2025 (Source: AFP)
The young England batter Jacob Bethell was recently a part of the English XI that won a Test match against Australia in Australia after a long wait of almost 15 years. He also played a crucial role with the bat with a 40-run knock during England’s successful run chase of 175 runs.
Meanwhile, Bethell has revealed about his experience of playing in India, especially in IPL 2025. Notably, he made his IPL debut for RCB in IPL 2025, appearing for two matches and scoring 67 runs, with a half-century. He will also be a part of RCB’s IPL 2026 squad in the role of a batting all-rounder.
“I was pretty nervous…” - Jacob Bethell on how IPL helped absorb MCG pressure
Bethell feels that it was the IPL experience of packed stadiums that made him manage the pressure of playing at MCG, where the attendance was 92,045.
“I was pretty nervous. Not so much with the people, just the occasion, I guess. But I've played over in India where it feels like there's 160,000 people watching. This atmosphere was incredible and it was nice to get a win and contribute,” said Bethell during an exclusive conversation with ESPN.
“The IPL, I only played two games for RCB but every game and every occasion... Definitely, just knowing what I'm able to get out of myself when the situation is like that and when the atmosphere is like that. I definitely had a lot more confidence coming into this game after playing in front of, I don't know, 50,000 - which felt like 100,000 - at the Chinnaswamy,” he added later.
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“You come in when the ball is new…” - Bethell on batting at number three for England
Furthermore, the 22-year-old also spoke about him batting at number three for England in all of the 10 innings he batted across five Tests. Interestingly, he has played at different positions from four to nine in 35 out of his total 44 First-Class innings.
"I like three. You come in when the ball is new and in some scenarios the ball's going all over the shop. But in other scenarios, it presents opportunities to score when bowlers are trying to take wickets and the field is attacking there's loads of gaps. So it's a double-edged sword but I'm enjoying it,” said the Barbados-born English cricketer.
"I would like to [nail down the role]. I would like to just nail down any role in the team to be honest. If you're in the XI and contributing to winning I'm pretty happy with that,” he concluded.
A promising start to international career
Speaking of Bethell’s international career for the Three Lions, he has the brilliant numbers to his name across 5 Tests, 18 ODIs, and 20 T20I appearances. The southpaw has scored 312 Test runs in 10 innings, with an average of 34.66, hitting three half-centuries, alongside 517 ODI runs in 16 innings, averaging 34.46, with a century and four half-centuries.
Apart from the traditional formats, he has scored 392 T20I runs in 18 innings of the shortest format of the game, with an average of 30.15, including two half-centuries.
