Ben Stokes, captain of the England Test team, has confirmed that he will participate in IPL 2023 despite fitness concerns. Nevertheless, the flashy all-rounder will only be permitted to play in the lucrative league if he is physically able to do so as England prepares for a blockbuster Ashes summer. During his side’s dramatic second Test against New Zealand in Wellington, the prominent England all-rounder suffered from a knee ailment.
The team management is presently evaluating Ben Stokes condition, and if it worsens, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) could prevent him from playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Nonetheless, coach Brendon McCullum supports his captain’s participation in the upcoming IPL season, as it will prepare him for the upcoming home Ashes series. In the IPL 2023 auction, four-time champions Chennai Super Kings acquired Stokes.
“The captain has a strong mentality, and he knows how to react in critical situations. That’s his life, right? Hence, I have no concerns. Brendon McCullum told The Telegraph, “I look forward to watching him play in the IPL, knowing that when he returns to the fold and leads us into the Ashes campaign, he’ll have the bit between his teeth and we’ll be OK.”
Our team is constructed to allow Zak to play in such a manner: Brendon McCullum also endorsed under-fire England opener Zak Crawley, who has been one of England’s weak links in their flamboyant style to batting in the longest format of the game.
“Zak is one of those players who will be inconsistent due to the role he is expected to play, which is to impose himself on the opposition and attempt to play in a manner that puts them under pressure. Our team is arranged to allow Zak to play in such a manner. He remains a key component for us moving ahead,” the New Zealander said.