Former England captain Geoffrey Boycott believes Jacob Bethell will face significant pressure in the upcoming Test series against New Zealand after opting to remain with Royal Challengers Bengaluru during IPL 2026 rather than joining England’s preparations earlier. Bethell’s decision became a major talking point throughout the IPL season. The young England batter was part of RCB’s title-winning campaign, but his limited game time sparked debate back home.

Former England skipper Alastair Cook questioned whether Bethell would have been better served by linking up with the national squad, while Kevin Pietersen defended the youngster, arguing that spending time in the world’s premier T20 league offered invaluable learning opportunities. Now, as England prepares for a crucial home Test series, Boycott believes Bethell must prove that the decision was the right one.

Writing in his column for The Telegraph, Boycott acknowledged Pietersen’s argument but warned that switching from T20 cricket to the demands of Test cricket without any warm-up matches could be a difficult adjustment. “For weeks on end, in the nets and matches, he has spent his time trying to clear the ropes and score boundaries. That mindset can become ingrained,” Geoffrey Boycott wrote.

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The legendary opener pointed out that modern T20 cricket encourages batters to attack almost every delivery, whereas Test cricket requires patience, discipline and sound judgment outside the off stump. According to Boycott, adapting from IPL cricket to a challenging Test series against New Zealand will require both mental and technical adjustments from the 21-year-old.

Boycott also highlighted how expectations around England players have evolved over the years. While lucrative IPL contracts once tempted players away from international commitments, he noted that England’s centrally contracted stars are now rewarded handsomely by their national board as well.

“In the early days of the IPL, the financial rewards were extraordinary compared to international cricket. Today, England players are on substantial contracts, and supporters have every right to expect top-level performances,” Geoffrey Boycott said.

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With England still searching for consistent success against elite teams such as India and Australia, Boycott believes the spotlight will firmly be on Bethell. The youngster now has an opportunity to justify his IPL decision and show that the experience gained with RCB can translate into success in the Test arena.