Kevin Pietersen claims Alastair Cook has ‘no idea’ after IPL criticism for Jacob Bethell

Kevin Pietersen has hit out at Sir Alastair Cook for advising Jacob Bethell to consider returning home from the Indian Premier League due to a lack of game time. After starring for England in the Ashes and the T20 World Cup, Bethell’s progress has been stunted, with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru opting against selecting the 22-year-old so far. Bethell hit a century in the final Test at Sydney in January and followed that up with a stunning 105 against India in the T20 World Cup semi-final in March, but Cook has advised him to return to county cricket, with his place at stake for this summer’s Test series against New Zealand and Sri Lanka, rather than "sitting on his a*** not doing anything" at the IPL.But Pietersen, an advocate for the IPL from his time as a player, rejected Cook’s advice, stating: “Cook has absolutely no idea what it's like to be in the IPL. What's it's like to always be around the best players in the world. “So his opinion on Jacob Bethell doesn't matter at all. Stay in India, Jacob. I know, even though you're not playing, you're learning and will be a way better player.”While Bethell discussed his predicament with the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, adding: "I don't think there's a right or wrong way to do it. I think we've seen last year, for me personally, that by not playing cricket for a little while, I came into the end of that India series a bit undercooked, which was a learning for me to take on board."But actually, if you look at where I was last year after coming back from the IPL, I was flying, going into that West Indies series and I feel in a similar position now. I feel better now than I was a month ago after the World Cup, through just getting time around the guys over here and the pure standard of cricket in India and the IPL."It's something that not many people will understand how cool it is until actually being around a team or the tournament itself when you're here."It just has a completely different feel. It feels like everyone almost ups their game subconsciously without even really knowing because of the calibre of the tournament."I feel like that even happens when you're not on the starting XI or even starting XII as it might be now with the impact player."Bethell’s 154 from number three in January at the end of England’s miserable tour of Australia means he should be in the XI for the first Test of the summer against New Zealand, starting on June 4 at Lord’s.He has been linked with moving up to open, where he has batted in white-ball cricket, if England discard Zak Crawley, which could lead to the in-form James Rew being selected in the middle-order.Bethell registered his maiden Test century at the Ashes in January (Robbie Stephenson/PA)Bethell admitted he would prefer to stay at first drop but would do whatever he is told, highlighting Joe Root being moved to opener to accommodate a returning Pietersen ahead of the 2013 Ashes.“I’d love to stay at three, if it’s up to me. I really like the position,” Bethell added. “I don’t think there’s a massive difference between three and the top.“Someone like Rooty had to start opening the batting and then kind of sit back down into number four. So if that’s what they want me to do, I’d be more than happy to do it.“But, I like three and I’d love to cement that spot as mine if possible.”PA contributed to this report