Ben Stokes ready to take IPL plunge, raise his level

STOKES PLAYED A BIG PART TAKING ENGLAND TO THE FINAL OF WORLD T20 AND PLAYED IN THE TEST SERIES LAST YEAR, WHICH INDIA WON 40.

One of the hottest players in world cricket, England allrounder Ben Stokes will represent his national board’s changed outlook towards Indian Premier League this season, and he expects it to take his level of exposure in the game to a different level altogether.

The England board has for years been suspicious of the Twenty20 league’s impact on its top players, and their commitment to Test cricket. Only Kevin Pietersen had warmed up to IPL very early, after being bought in 2009 along with former allrounder Andrew Flintoff.

However,Stokes was unveiled by his franchise Rising Pune Supergiants on Thursday at a launch conference attended by the team’s Aussie skipper Steve Smith and India vice-captain, Ajinkya Rahane.

The 25-year-old became the highest paid overseas player in the IPL this year after being bought for a whopping ~14.5 crore, something which the Durham player had described as ‘complete carnage’. Only Yuvraj Singh has attracted a higher bid, after he went to Delhi Daredevils for ~16 crore in 2015.

KP will not play this season, but there will be a strong contingent from England with limitedovers skipper Eoin Morgan, wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, Jason Roy and Chris Jordan all to play. Fast bowler, Tymal Mills, a T20 specialist, went to RCB for ~12 crore.

Stokes, who was presented his team jersey with No 55 and name emblazed on it, chose to focus on how the league can help broaden his horizons. Stokes played a big part in taking England to the final of the World Twenty20 in 2016 and then played in the Test series late last year, which India won 4-0.

“I’m excited to be here and am grateful for the opportunity. It will be my first IPL, which I have only watched only on TV in the past. I hope we have a good season, and we hopefully win the trophy,” he said.

Stokes, 25, was bid by as many as five of the eight teams before the Sanjiv Goenka-owned RPS bought him. “I didn’t know what to expect. A few things went my way, I guess,” he said.

How was it different from England’s current tournament, the T20 blast?

“In England it isn’t a franchise competition. So, the exposure you get in a competition like this, you don’t get there. This is the best in the world, and you get to share the change room in the IPL and Big Bash with other international players. You get to share, and take your T20 game to a new level.

“I’m going to be here for six weeks, and solely focus on T20 cricket. The level of exposure here compared to anything (will be far better).”