India, July 22 -- The Indian Premier League remains the biggest T20 franchise tournament in the world, with young cricketers from across the globe eager to be part of it. For many, even a place on the bench is worth it because of the opportunity to train with some of the game's biggest stars, work with top coaches and experience the demands of elite-level cricket. The exposure is often seen as an important step in a player's development.

But that view is not shared by everyone. During IPL 2026, Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Jacob Bethell was criticised by former England captain Alastair Cook for staying in India despite not getting regular game time. Cook believed Bethell would have benefited more from playing county cricket ahead of Eng...