Former India wicketkeeper-batter and current Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) mentor Dinesh Karthik has stirred up the England middle-order debate by expressing his preference for young Jacob Bethell over the more experienced Ollie Pope in the current Test setup. While he acknowledged that sidelining Pope might seem harsh, Karthik believes Bethell brings a greater degree of adaptability and future potential to the crease.
Pope, who came into the five-match Test series against India with questions hanging over his No. 3 spot, briefly silenced his critics with a sublime 106 in the first innings of the Leeds Test. However, a recent dip in form, reflected in scores of 8, 0, and 24 in his last three innings, has reignited the selection dilemma.
Karthik shared his view on the No. 3 player of the playing 11 -
In course of a panel discussion on Sky Sports, alongside legends like Nasser Hussain, Ravi Shastri, and Michael Atherton, Karthik was asked who he’d back at No. 3, Pope or Bethell? The former India stumper didn’t hold back:
“I am a bit biased. I would pick him (Jacob Bethell) at No. 3. At this point of time, I’d pick him ahead of Ollie Pope. The fact is that if you are an England selector and coach, it’s unfair to Pope. He got a hundred in the last game. But if you look at the long run, it would be interesting to see where Bethell and Pope finish. I feel, along with Harry Brook, he is probably the big one to watch out for.”
Bethell praised by the ex-Indian gloveman
Karthik further praised Bethell’s tactical awareness and versatility, traits that have impressed the RCB think tank in the IPL setup.
“You can almost bat him anywhere. Three to seven, he is ready. In IPL, we have picked him in such a way that he gives us flexibility to bat - opening, three and even middle of the order and finisher. What I really liked about him is his ability to understand, absorb information and quickly transfer it to his game,” Karthik elaborated.
Bethell’s impact in IPL 2025, although limited to just two games, was noteworthy. Opening the batting against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the southpaw blazed away to a 55-run knock off just 33 deliveries, peppering the field with eight boundaries and two sixes. His opening stand of 97 runs with Virat Kohli, built in 9.5 overs, provided RCB with a thundering start.
Pope vs Bethell in numbers
Pope has nine centuries and 15 fifties from 58 Tests and averages 35.45. Critics argue that the numbers haven’t quite matched the promise shown early in his career. The right-hander, now 27, has had ample opportunities to cement his spot, yet his inconsistency continues to be a concern.
On the flip side, Bethell is still making his mark in the red-ball arena. Despite a modest first-class average of 28.61 from 24 matches, the 21-year-old showcased promise during his debut Test series against New Zealand in late 2024, registering three half-centuries in six innings.