From IPL Dreams to England Whites: Jacob Bethell’s Rollercoaster Ride
So, have you been following Jacob Bethell's journey lately? It's been quite the story—a real rollercoaster ride for a 21-year-old cricketer who's already turning heads in world cricket. Just last year, Bethell made a stunning Test debut for England in New Zealand. In Christchurch, he smashed an unbeaten 50 off just 37 balls, helping England chase down a tricky total. And that was only the beginning. He went on to score 96 and 76 in the following matches, all while batting at No. 3. His performances helped England clinch the series 2-1, and he even chipped in with three wickets. Not bad for a debut series, right?
Off the back of those performances, Bethell earned himself a two-year central contract and suddenly became part of the serious conversations around England’s future batting lineup. So much so, that even head coach Brendon McCullum hinted that Ollie Pope’s spot at No. 3 was no longer guaranteed. That’s how good Bethell looked.
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But then came a twist. When England played a one-off Test against Zimbabwe, Bethell chose to skip it and head back to the IPL instead. He stayed committed to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who would eventually go on to win the title. In that campaign, Bethell opened with none other than Virat Kohli. He had a modest start with 12 runs against Delhi, but followed it up with a blistering 55 off 33 balls against Chennai. It was short, but enough to make an impression.
That decision, however, came with consequences. While Bethell was away, Pope took his chance. He smashed 171 against Zimbabwe and followed it up with another century in the first Test against India. Just like that, Pope reclaimed the No. 3 spot. Bethell was released from the squad and went back to playing County cricket for Warwickshire and a few T20s in the Vitality Blast.
But things have a funny way of turning around in cricket. With Ben Stokes ruled out of the fifth and final Test against India, Bethell was recalled. The match is at The Oval, and under Pope’s captaincy, Bethell has another shot—this time batting at six. Even Ben Stokes backed him publicly, saying he’s a quality player who handled pressure well in New Zealand and has the versatility to adapt anywhere in the order.
It’s poetic really—Bethell, who almost edged out Pope for the No. 3 spot, is now playing under his leadership. And as Ravi Ashwin put it, the world might be about to witness the rise of a new superstar. Let’s see if Bethell makes this chance count.
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