Dinesh Karthik has defended Jacob Bethell‘s decision to remain with Royal Challengers Bengaluru throughout IPL 2026, arguing that players have a responsibility to honour the contracts they sign despite not being guaranteed a place in the starting XI.
The debate resurfaced during a discussion on The Overlap: Stick to Cricket podcast, where Karthik and former England Captain Alastair Cook offered contrasting views on whether Bethell should have remained with RCB or returned home earlier to prepare for England’s Test series against New Zealand.
"English cricket is more important than an IPL or franchise." 🫣
Sir Alastair argues his case with DK and Mo. 👀 pic.twitter.com/JmhKBqbMHQ
— Stick to Cricket (@StickToCricket) July 22, 2026
Karthik backs Bethell’s commitment to RCB
Bethell spent much of the early part of the IPL season on the sidelines with England wicketkeeper-batter Phil Salt ahead of him in RCB’s batting order. Rather than leaving the tournament, the young left-hander stayed with the squad before eventually earning opportunities after Salt was sidelined through injury.
Karthik argued that honouring an IPL contract should take precedence once a player has committed to a franchise.
“You say he was sitting there warming the bench. He has a contract in place with RCB, which he has decided to be part of. How do you dishonour the contract which he has chosen to be part of? How do you dishonour it because he is warming the bench?” Karthik said.
The former India wicketkeeper-batter added that players should make their decision before entering the IPL auction rather than after discovering they are not first-choice selections.
“So if every player decided to do that – ‘If you drop me, I am going back home’ – then we will have only 11 players in our environment. I know he should take a decision. You know Phil Salt is here. I might not play, so I should get back home. Say it not before the season, but before you put your name in the auction. Choose then, and if you get here, decide to play. You can’t say, ‘Oh, I am not playing, I want to go home.’” he added.
Cook believes England should come first
Cook, however, maintained that England’s long-term interests should outweigh franchise commitments, particularly for a player expected to play a key role in the national team’s Test future.
“What I’m saying is, I think this is where it’s really important. I’m here for the Test match in a week’s time, and one of our No. 3 players is sitting on the bench. I think it’s really important that English cricket is more important than the IPL or a franchise. That’s what I think, and apparently, I’m not allowed to think it because the IPL is the best tournament in the world,” Cook said.
Cook argued that while the experience of spending time in an IPL environment has value, regular competitive cricket should remain the priority ahead of a Test series.
“So I’m taking it that Jacob Bethell, who sat on the bench the year before and learnt from all those players, is now also sitting on the bench and not playing. I’m sitting here going, my No. 3 for the side I actually really want to win, which is England – no disrespect to RCB and all those franchises – I want England to be the most successful side,” he continued.
Debate centres on Bethell’s long-term development
Although Bethell remained with RCB before eventually featuring later in the campaign, Cook questioned whether the lack of red-ball preparation was the best outcome for one of England’s brightest young batters.
“Jacob Bethell is one hell of a talent and in the next 10 years, could be one of our most important players when Joe Root goes. I am sitting and going he’s not playing any red ball cricket and going to come back and face a decent New Zealand side without any practice which I don’t think that’s perfect,” Cook added.
The discussion highlights the continuing tension between franchise commitments and international cricket, with Bethell’s IPL season becoming the latest example of the competing demands facing leading players as domestic T20 leagues continue to grow in prominence.
