CSK all-rounder Ben Stokes to miss IPL 2024 to manage workload and fitness
Chennai Super Kings announced on Thursday that the star England all-rounder, Ben Stokes, has opted out of participating in IPL 2024 to manage his workload and fitness.
CSK paid INR 16.25 crore to sign Stokes in the IPL 2023 auctions. However, due to a knee ailment, the 32-year-old was limited to only a couple of games, returning with dismal scores of eight and seven.
“England Test captain, all-rounder Ben Stokes has made himself unavailable for IPL 2024 to manage his workload and fitness. Stokes, 32, became a part of the Super Kings ahead of the successful IPL 2023. He recently participated in the ODI World Cup 2023, which he came out of retirement for,” CSK’s statement read.
“The Chennai Super Kings management is supportive of Ben in his decision to manage his workload with England playing a 5-Test series in India before the IPL and then the T20 World Cup in June 2024.
Stokes debuted in the IPL in the 2017 season. Rising Pune Supergiant secured his services for a whopping INR 14.5 crores, making him the most expensive foreign player at that time. The English cricketer displayed a promising performance in his maiden season, scoring 316 runs in 12 matches with an impressive strike rate of 142.98. More than his batting averages, it was the impact he made at crucial junctures of matches that caught the attention of cricket enthusiasts around the globe.
Stokes continued to adorn his IPL career when he moved to Rajasthan Royals in 2018. In the 2019 IPL season, he exhibited his all-round abilities, providing valuable contributions with both the bat and the ball. However, despite showing instances of brilliance, Stoke’s overall performance remained inconsistent throughout the season.
The 2020 IPL season, hosted in the UAE due to COVID-19, was particularly remarkable for Stokes. He recorded his highest run in the IPL during this season, scoring a stunning 107 not out against Mumbai Indians. It was in this season that he opened the batting for his team, the Rajasthan Royals, displaying confidence in his ability to produce big scores. In total, he made 285 runs in just eight matches at an average of nearly 41.
CSK will feel the impact of Stokes’ absence, missing his game-changing abilities with bat and ball that have been crucial for the team. To stay competitive in IPL 2024, CSK must rethink their approach and consider new options. While Stokes’ absence poses challenges, it also opens doors for the team to explore different strategies and unearth potential opportunities.