IPL 2023: Ben Stokes, an all-rounder for the Chennai Super Kings, will miss at least another week due to an injury, according to coach Stephen Fleming. Stokes cost Chennai $1.98 million at the player auction in December, but the England test skipper has only participated in two of the team’s six matches due to a toe injury.
After Chennai beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets on Friday, Fleming said that Stokes will not be returning to play anytime soon due to a fresh injury.
On Monday, Stokes was recognized as “Leading Cricketer in the World” by the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack. In addition to resting a sore knee, England needs the 31-year-old to be 100 per cent for June’s five-match Ashes series against Australia. On Sunday, four-time champions Chennai will take on Kolkata Knight Riders.
Ben Stokes likely to be out for at least another week in IPL 2023
“He had another little setback yesterday, so he’s probably a few days or a week away at least,” former New Zealand captain Fleming told reporters.
“This is a challenge. Now the team is playing well. The first thing is him being fit and then if we have a headache around selection. Our priority is getting Ben fit and ready to play, that’s what we are concentrating on,” he added.
Meanwhile, CSK has won four of their last six games despite being without Stokes. A few players, including their foreign players, becoming injured left Chennai with few viable choices, yet they still managed to pull off the victories.
Moeen Ali has been effective with the ball, taking six wickets in five matches; Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana of Sri Lanka have also been successful with the ball. However, Devon Conway is gunning for the Orange cap after scoring 258 runs (enough for the fourth most in IPL 2023) in only six games.
Conway scored 77 runs without being dismissed on Friday night against SRH, while both Theekshana and Pathirana took a wicket for their team.
Twitter Reacts:
Thank God lsg bailed out from him in last moment https://t.co/cwLYWIR83c
Advertisement— Shubham (@golchiee) April 22, 2023
Csk ke saath accha mazaak hua hai 😂 https://t.co/PrW9Aw9vv2
— Mridu ⚯͛ (@mj_alwayss) April 22, 2023
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I doubt he will ever be bought in IPL now. https://t.co/0xaaE3Wd7f
Advertisement— LC 🏏 (@TweetECricket) April 22, 2023
I said this when Baz announced that Ben will take care of his injury during the IPL. https://t.co/pQNckyWD1M
— Kshitij Ojha (@Kshitij070) April 22, 2023
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And then might leave for England soon! 😂
Fraud(est) player! https://t.co/Qquouuq8OzAdvertisement— Jaanvi🏏 (@that_shutterbug) April 22, 2023
Now just wait for him to leave in a week or two Max for England. 👍👍 https://t.co/cdohu2rhx4 pic.twitter.com/e9kgDqXw5u
— Archer (@poserarcher) April 22, 2023
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He is taking rest and preparing for Ashes. Then there is Indian players who are wearing down their bodies by playing back to back matches knowing they have WTC final. At least take some rest. Otherwise half the team will be injured come WTC final. https://t.co/JThfODEGgT
Advertisement— Dev tweets (@vklover161097) April 22, 2023
sam curran would've been a better pick than ben stokes. https://t.co/L29a90KvIY
— zayn malik's wife 🥰 (@taylorsbaby13) April 22, 2023
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