IPL 2024: CSK all-rounder Ben Stokes made himself ‘unavailable’ for IPL 2024: In a bid to give himself enough room for workload management and fitness, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder has opted to remain unavailable for the upcoming IPL 2024. The decision came as we approach the deadline for the IPL 2024 player retentions.
Ben Stokes, the costliest buy ever for CSK in the auctions, will no longer take part in the IPL 2024 proceedings. The development was confirmed by his franchise, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who said in a statement that the team is supportive of the decision Stokes has made.
The English all-rounder is set to undergo knee surgery in the coming time after having delayed it for a bit due to the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. Stokes, flared up his issues with the knee during England’s tour of New Zealand in February this year. He had the option to undergo the surgery, however, the option was put aside for a bit due to the approaching World Cup 2023 in India, for which the all-rounder had to come out of ODI retirement.
Stokes played the World Cup 2023 purely as a batter and had a pretty decent outing in the tournament. Although his side had an embarrassing show throughout the showpiece event, finishing seventh in the points table, Stokes managed to put in some runs for his team. He scored 304 runs in six World Cup innings which included two half-centuries.
The all-rounder had a modest outing in the IPL 2023 after becoming the costliest player for the CSK in the auctions ever. CSK had to shell out INR 16.25 Crores to get the services of an English all-rounder. However, the returns didn’t come as expected.
Stokes could not bowl more than an over in the tournament and scored just 15 runs with the bat before getting injured. He took part in the two fixtures and then was benched for the entire season due to a knee injury.
After England’s campaign in the World Cup 2023 was over, Stokes expressed that he wants to be fit for the upcoming test series against India, next year.
“I’ve put a lot of hard work in away from cricket to give myself the best chance of a quicker recovery and, with Christmas and everything coming up, the main thing for me is getting this knee right and being ready and raring to go for that Test series in India,” Stokes had said after England’s last game at the World Cup.
It is noteworthy that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) still has not released Ben Stokes from the franchise ahead of the IPL 2024 Auctions. CSK would be able to retain Stokes ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction if they chose to not release him in the upcoming season.
However, this is unlikely to happen as Stokes’s unavailablity would eat up INR 16.25 Crores, which can be used by the franchise to get some fit players during the auction.
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