Ben Stokes, the English Test captain, has recently announced that he plans to play in this year’s IPL season despite suffering from a knee injury. Although he was limited to only two overs in England’s recent match against New Zealand, Stokes is still determined to participate in the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) tournament and then show up for the Ashes series as a fourth seamer.
Stokes’ Status
Stokes was struggling with his knee injury during the 2-Test series against New Zealand, which ended in a 1-1 draw on Monday. He only bowled two overs in the second Test and was visibly in pain while batting.
While Stokes admits that his injury is “incredibly frustrating,” he has four months before the Ashes to improve his knee. He will not be resting during this time, but instead will be working with physios and medics to get his knee in the best possible condition. Although Stokes may not play much of a role with the ball for CSK, he will still be expected to bat and field as normal.
“I’m not going to lie, it has been very frustrating knowing something has been holding me back from performing as I’d like to,” Stokes said after England went down to a one-run defeat in Wellington, which saw the series shared 1-1. “But if anything, I’ll probably take my commitment to getting it better even more seriously.”
Stokes’ Plans
Stokes’ dedication to the sport is commendable, and it’s clear that he is willing to do whatever it takes to get back to peak performance. His resilience and determination to participate in the IPL season and the Ashes series are qualities that make him a valuable asset to his team.
Despite not revealing the exact nature of his injury, Stokes’ confidence in his ability to recover is reassuring. His commitment to improving his knee is admirable, and it’s evident that he’s working closely with his medical team to ensure he can perform to the best of his ability.
Before his announcements for the IPL, Stokes had confirmed that he will be heading back to England to captain the team in a one-off Test match against Ireland before the commencement of the Ashes. The Ireland Test is scheduled to begin on June 1.
At the time he stated that he will be leading the team in all six matches this summer, starting with Ireland, even if it means missing the knockout stages of the IPL.
2023 IPL
The IPL 2023 will begin on March 31 and conclude on May 28. Stokes has been a crucial player for the Chennai Super Kings team and was bought for Rs 16.25 crore. The cricket star is hoping to be fully fit for the Ashes, which begins on June 16th and lead his team from the front.
The upcoming cricket tournament known as the TATA IPL 2023 or IPL 16 is the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League, which is a professional Twenty20 cricket league founded by the Board of Control for Cricket in India back in 2007. The reigning champions are the Gujarat Titans.