England batter Jacob Bethell said it was a “tough pill to swallow” after his century went in vain in England’s defeat to India in the second semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.
Bethell tore into the Indian bowling attack to record the second-fastest century in T20 World Cup history, getting there in just 45 balls.
The knock meant Bethell now has centuries in all three formats for England. Earlier this year, he had also scored a hundred against Australia in the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney, though England had lost that match as well.
Reflecting on both centuries coming in losing causes, Bethell said the feeling was bittersweet.
“I think they’re not comparable, really. The skills and the mentality and thinking are different between the two of them. Both feelings are pretty good, but both of them have come in losing causes, which is a weird feeling,” Bethell said after the match.
“You know, cricket’s a cruel game. Personal performances don’t always solidify into team performances. So both of those are tough pills to swallow,” he added.
Bethell also pointed to Axar Patel’s fielding effort as a turning point in the match, particularly the catches of Harry Brook and Will Jacks.
“I think that Brookie catch, it was a good catch. But the game was far more apart at that point. But to do it under the pressure when me and Jacksy had that partnership going really was a dagger to us,” he said.
“I think if Jacksy was there in the next over when Bumrah was bowling, we could have put more pressure on him and then we don’t have to get 30 off the last. I think that definitely changed the complexion of the game and fair play to him. They were two hell of catches,” Bethell added.
