Jacob Bethell’s IPL 2026 spell is turning into a valuable education in the finer points of T20 batting, and the setting couldn’t be more instructive. At Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he spends his days in the same dug-out as Virat Kohli—widely viewed as the sport’s premier chase-builder in white-ball cricket—and the lessons are already starting to show in how Bethell talks about batting under pressure.
Bethell learning the chase craft alongside Virat Kohli
The 22-year-old’s growth comes with a clear reference point. Earlier this year, during the T20 World Cup semifinal in March, Bethell produced a standout knock for England while chasing a target of over 250 against India. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t steer the side across the line. Now, with Kohli providing day-to-day guidance at RCB, Bethell believes the focus will shift toward applying chase principles more consistently for his team.
Bethell has also begun this IPL season with Kohli in the opening slot in all the matches he has played so far. Speaking on what he is taking from watching Kohli, the left-handed batter described chase batting as an art that requires both control and awareness of the game’s changing demands.
- Bethell said watching Virat chase teaches the “art” of building an innings while managing the chase and remaining unbeaten.
- He added that the key is adapting gears depending on the situation rather than sticking to one approach throughout.
- He noted that walking out with Kohli brings the added challenge of handling a loud, charged atmosphere while staying fully switched on.
How RCB’s high-tempo environment shapes his approach
Bethell also reflected on what he noticed after joining RCB. He explained that he arrived curious about what the experience would be like, and by observing Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and having conversations with Dinesh Karthik, he realised the match rhythm in Bengaluru is different.
- He said he became aware that the game at RCB is played at a high tempo.
- Bethell stressed that the role demands aggression and courage, not just technical correctness.
As for his own output so far, Bethell has appeared in only three matches this season and is yet to make a major impact for RCB. Last year, he played five games and managed to score a fifty during RCB’s trophy-winning run, giving him experience of the big moments—though this season is still about establishing his influence more regularly.
From the West Indies to Bengaluru: Bethell’s cricket journey
Bethell’s development story stretches across continents. He traced his beginnings to the West Indies, describing how life in Barbados was always centred around batting and bowling. From there, he moved to England for school, progressed through Warwickshire, and then secured his first professional contract in 2021.
He also acknowledged a setback along the way: a stress fracture temporarily halted his progress. However, he said he returned with renewed strength, earned an England call-up, and eventually arrived in Bengaluru.
- Bethell grew up in Barbados, playing with bat and ball from an early age.
- He began taking the sport more seriously around ages 10 to 12.
- He moved to England for school, advanced through Warwickshire, and signed his first contract in 2021.
- A stress fracture delayed him, but he recovered strongly and earned an England call-up before joining RCB.
Mindset, county cricket talk, and the next RCB assignment
Bethell’s mentality is framed as hunger for improvement rather than simply collecting opportunities. Alastair Cook recently raised questions about Bethell’s IPL run, pointing out that the youngster was not getting opportunities at the time and had not played any matches until then. Cook’s view was that Bethell should prioritise the ongoing county season rather than waiting for IPL chances.
Bethell’s comments were not presented as a direct reply to Cook, but they echoed a similar theme: his desire to be better than last year and to keep pushing himself, regardless of how many matches he plays.
- Bethell said he wanted to improve on last year’s level.
- He argued that whether a player gets a few games or many, the driving factor is hunger.
- He added that the IPL is the marquee tournament and questioned when improvement would happen if it doesn’t occur there.
With the next match coming up, RCB are set to travel to the Ekana Stadium to face Lucknow Super Giants on Thursday. Bethell will be looking for another opening chance and will hope to cement his place at the other end, taking inspiration from the chasing specialist he spends his IPL days learning from.
