“I’m going,” Ben Stokes confirms his availablity for IPL 2023 despite knee injury

The 31-year-old did not bowl to his full potential during New Zealand's second innings in the second Test. After the defeat, Stokes revealed that despite the knee problem, he will participate in the IPL.

“I’m going,” Ben Stokes confirms his availablity for IPL 2023 despite knee injury

Ben Stokes

Despite a knee problem, England Test captain Ben Stokes confirmed his availability for the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). For this season, his services were secured by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the mini-auction held on December 23 last year.

The 31-year-old did not bowl to his full potential during New Zealand’s second innings in the second Test. He failed to bowl more than two overs, which saw the Kiwis bundled out for 483 runs at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. That dramatic match ended up in favor of the Black Caps by just one run, with bowler Neil Wagner becoming the hero of the match.

After the defeat, Stokes revealed that despite the knee problem, he will participate in the IPL. He also stated that he talked about the same with CSK head coach Stephen Fleming and that he is working hard with the physios to recover completely.

“I’m going to the IPL,” said Stokes as quoted by the Daily Mail. I’ve had conversations with ‘Flem’ and he’s fully aware of the situation with my body. It’s a week-by-week case at the moment. I’m not going to lie, it’s incredibly frustrating knowing something has been holding me back from performing as I’d like to. I’ve been working hard with the physios and the medics trying to get myself to a place where I can fulfill my role as I have done for the last 10 years.”

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Ben Stokes was one of the costliest players in the 2022 IPL auction

Ben Stokes on his availablity despite knee injury
Ben Stokes

Stokes added that he has now four months to get it better before the Ashes because he wants to be turning up for the first Test in Birmingham to fulfill his role properly.

Notably, Stokes was one of the costliest players in the IPL 2023 auction. CSK roped him in for INR 16. 25 crore in a bidding war against the Lucknow Supergiants, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Rajasthan Royals.

Before the IPL auction, the cricket fraternity saw how the all-rounder played a crucial role in helping his team thrash Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup final as England lifted the coveted cup for the second time. Owing to England’s victory, their players became some of the most expensive ones in the history of IPL.

Stokes was the Player of the Tournament in IPL 2017 when he played for the now-defunct franchise Rising Pune Supergiants. The franchise bought the star all-rounder for INR 14.50 crore, making him the most expensive overseas player in the IPL auction back then. He amassed 316 runs in 12 matches and scalped 12 wickets to help his team reach the ultimate game.

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