Former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie has lashed out at former England batter Kevin Pietersen for ‘hammering’ his former captain Alastair Cook publicly over the latter questioning Jacob Bethell preferring the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 over county cricket. Cook wanted the benched (at the time when Phil Salt was playing) Bethell to leave Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) camp and play County cricket to prepare for the Test series against New Zealand. Pietersen dismissed Cook’s comments and said that the former opener doesn’t know anything IPL because he hasn’t played any. Gillespie believes that Cook was not wrong when he wanted Bethell to play red-ball cricket.
“The nerve of Sir Alastair Cook to suggest something like that,” Gillespie said in a sarcastic manner during The Fast Bowling Cartel podcast featuring former Australian pacers Glenn McGrath and Damien Fleming.
“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.”
Gillespie feels that Cook had a reason behind saying Bethell should return and play red-ball cricket. He feels Pietersen’s response was uncalled for.
“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.
Pietersen has often said that he had to retire prematurely due to his tussle with England Cricket Board (ECB) and former captain Andrew Strauss. He also takes credit for England players' getting access to franchise cricket. Gillespie mocked these points and said that Pietersen did it for himself to make money, not for others who followed him.
“He reckons he would have played 150 Tests or more. He’s the one who paved the way,” Gillespie said with sarcastic tone again.
“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,” he further added.
Here’s what Cook said
“Bethell shouldn’t really be it because he’s not opening. He’s sitting at the IPL not doing anything. Ideally, he could come back and open for Warwickshire to help England,” Cook had said on the Stick to Cricket podcast.
Pietersen’s reply to Cook
“Alastair Cook has absolutely NO IDEA what it’s like to be in the IPL,” Pietersen wrote on X.
“Stay in India, Jacob. Even though you're not playing, you're learning and will be a way better player.”
Bethell plays after Cook’s comments, gets injured and heads back
After Salt got injured, Salt opened with Virat Kohli. He played seven games and scored 96 runs at a strike rate of 124.67. He suffered a finger injury and missed previous clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). He has been ruled out of the remainder of the IPL and flew back to England for injury assessment ahead of Test series opener against New Zealand.