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Former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie has inserted himself into the feud between former England captains Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook. Pietersen and Cook have been going back and forth over the young batter Jacob Bethell.
Jacob Bethell has seemingly been anointed England’s new No. 3 in Test cricket, especially after his century in Sydney in January. But Bethell chose to play for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL instead of going back to England to play the County Championship.
Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen’s feud
The “feud” as such started when Cook criticised Bethell for simply warming the benches at the IPL. On the Stick to Cricket Podcast, Cook said that it would be better for Bethell’s own development to play County Cricket.
When Cook made his comments, Bethell had not played any matches for RCB in IPL 2026, or “sitting on his a*** and doing nothing,” as Cook had called it. Pietersen then laid into Cook by writing on his X account that Cook had no idea what it was like to be in the IPL and that Bethell should stay in India even if he hadn’t played any matches.
Bethell himself had reacted to the debate by saying that the pressure at an IPL net session was still higher than whatever the County Championship could provide on the Sky Sports Podcast. Cook then doubled down on his comments by saying that Bethell had to play at some stage, and that no one would ever actually criticise the IPL because it lined their pockets.
Jason Gillespie tears into Pietersen
Jason Gillespie joined his former Australia teammates and fellow legendary fast bowlers Glenn McGrath and Damien Fleming on “The Fast Bowling Cartel” podcast.
“The nerve of Sir Alastair Cook to suggest something like that,” Gillespie said sarcastically. “KP has gone off the deep end and stated that Sir Alastair Cook’s opinion doesn’t matter because he’s never been to the IPL and would not know.”
Jason Gillespie insisted Cook had made a perfectly reasonable point, especially considering Bethell was not getting game time. “I think Sir Alastair Cook had a valid point, but the way KP absolutely hammered him for having an opinion — give me a spell, boys. Absolute nonsense,” Gillespie added.
Gillespie continues sarcastic assault
Jason Gillespie then went on to become even more scathing in his sarcastic assault on Pietersen. Gillespie went on to attack Pietersen’s previous actions of stating that he deserved to play more than 150 Tests, and also the time that Pietersen prioritised the IPL over his national team and urged other people to do so as well.
“He reckons he would have played 150 Tests or more. He’s the one who paved the way,” Jason Gillespie said sarcastically. “Thank you, Kevin, for the stars above, the sun, the moon, the earth we walk on, and the air we breathe. It was all about cash for you, Kev. Give me a break, you muppet.”
Jacob Bethell in IPL 2026
After all this, Jacob Bethell was ultimately unable to convert his potential into performance in this year’s IPL. He has played 7 matches in IPL 2026 but has made only 96 runs at a strike rate of 125.
He later on returned to England to assess his finger injury, which he suffered during the IPL, and as he will miss the playoffs and possibly the final.
Also Read: “What he’s doing?” Sanjay Manjrekar tears apart CSK head coach Stephen Fleming after poor IPL season
