Woakes backs Stokes to regain form
new delhi — Fourth months after splashing out $1.97 million to secure the services of Ben Stokes, Rajasthan Royals cannot be faulted for regretting the splurge as they struggle to stay afloat in this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL).
Stokes, then with Rising Pune Supergiant, set alight last year’s tournament with his scintillating batting, crafty bowling and electric fielding, making him the obvious choice for the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) honour. England and world cricket’s premier all-rounder’s Midas touch has deserted him since joining Rajasthan, however, with the 26-year-old still looking for his first fifty in this year’s tournament, while the wickets have also dried up.
But it may still not to be too late for Stokes, according to England team mate Chris Woakes.
“He is a world class player,” Woakes, who is among a dozen English players in this year’s IPL, told reporters on Friday.
“Probably has not played as well as he would have liked throughout the tournament but I never write him off.
“Still four games left and more if they qualify. He’s a fantastic player. If you slip off your game against him, he will punish you,” the Royal Challengers Bangalore player added. Stokes did suffer a setback off the pitch when he was charged with affray following an incident in Bristol last September, costing him a place on England’s Ashes tour of Australia.
The player has pleaded not guilty and will face trial in August.