CSK & Ben Stokes Part Ways Ahead Of IPL Auction 2024

image-lpb4txiqBen Stokes in IPL 2023 (AP Photos)

Ben Stokes, the star English all-rounder is all set to miss IPL 2024 as he has opted out of the league's upcoming edition due to fitness concerns and workload management. Ben Stokes have been battling with knee injury for quite a long time and is set to undergo surgery ahead of the India Test series scheduled to be played in early 2024. 

It seems that he has decided to be more careful with his fitness and not risk his body in a gruesome environment of IPL 2024.

Official statement from the franchise -

"England Test captain, all-rounder Ben Stokes has made himself unavailable for IPL 2024 to manage his workload and fitness," said the franchise in a statement. 

"The Chennai Super Kings management is supportive of Ben in his decision to manage his workload with England playing a five-Test series in India before the IPL and then the T20 World Cup in June 2024," it added.

Ben Stokes was bought at a whopping price of 16.25 crore ahead of IPL 2023 and was expected to play a big role in the last edition. However, he managed to play only two games and sat out of the playing 11 for the rest of the season, due to a knee injury. Since, then he has been constantly in trouble because of his knee injury and played purely as a batter in the World Cup 2023.

Since then, his participation in the IPL has been in doubt, and Ben Stokes, being the England Test captain, wants to prioritize Test cricket. He has not played T20 cricket for England as well since the 2022 T20 World Cup and came out of retirement from ODIs to play World Cup in India recently.

CSK, on the other hand, seem to be prepared for Ben Stokes absence after winning the IPL trophy without him in 2023 and would be hoping that at least their talismanic skipper, MS Dhoni is fit and ready to play his final IPL season, as he promised after a memorable IPL win at Ahmedabad last season.