Benjamin Andrew Stokes OBE, born on June 4, 1991, is a prominent English international cricketer currently serving as the captain of the England Test team. He is a key contributor to the England team in both ODIs and T20Is and represents Durham in domestic cricket, showcasing his skills in various Twenty20 leagues worldwide. Stokes played a pivotal role in the England teams that achieved victory in the 2019 Cricket World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup. Originally hailing from Christchurch, New Zealand, Stokes moved to England during his childhood. His international cricket journey includes a T20I debut in 2011 and a Test debut in 2013. Stokes significantly contributed to England’s One Day International (ODI) team from 2011 until his retirement from the format in July 2022. A standout moment in his career occurred during the 2019 Cricket World Cup final, where he top-scored in England’s innings and played a crucial role in the tied Super Over, earning him the Man of the Match award.
Ben Stokes has opted out of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) due to his upcoming knee surgery, with the goal of fully recovering for England’s extensive Test series in India. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has released Stokes, expressing support for his decision. Stokes had a limited role in CSK’s successful 2023 season, playing in only two matches with a modest performance. Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra speculates that even if Stokes had been available for IPL 2024, CSK might not have retained him due to concerns about his fitness. Chopra questions whether any franchise would have been willing to invest ₹16.25 crores in Stokes given his recent injury issues. On his YouTube channel, Chopra stated, “Ben Stokes has said that he won’t play in the IPL. Was Chennai going to retain him? That’s a big question. In my opinion, they weren’t going to do so. Would any other team have bought him for 16.25 crores? My two cents – it was not going to happen.” Stokes’s absence, along with Ambati Rayudu’s retirement after the 2023 season, frees up a significant portion of CSK’s budget, allowing them to strategize for the upcoming season.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has made additional player releases, including international players such as New Zealand’s Kyle Jamieson and South Africa’s Dwaine Pretorius. The list of departures also features South African cricketer Sisanda Magala, alongside domestic players Bhagath Varma, Subhranshu Senapati, and Akash Singh. With these player releases, CSK now possesses a budget of ₹31.4 crore for the 2024 season. Teams were required to disclose their retained and released players by the November 26 deadline, and the option to engage in player trades remains open until December 12. The player auction for the upcoming 2024 season is slated for December 19 in Dubai.
