Stokes set to earn big IPL money

BEN Stokes will get the “big bucks” in this month’s IPL auction according to India star Yuvraj Singh.

England’s players are available for much more of the IPL this year due to there being no Test match in May, with the likes of Stokes, Jason Roy and Tymal Mills all likely to attract interest. Jos Buttler and Sam Billings are already signed to teams.

Yuvraj went for a record £1.6m in 2015 and he believes Stokes can beat that record when the auction takes place in Bangalore.

He said: “He’s worth a couple of million. He’s a quality hitter, fast bowler and fielder. He’ll definitely get big bucks. He brings a lot to the table.

“If these guys come and play the IPL, their skills will improve. The more they play in different conditions, the better they will become.

“I always see Ben and Virat [Kohli] having a go at each other. It’s great for cricket to have passion. We always have banter with the English. My old battles were with Flintoff.”

And while Stokes may earn big by playing in India, he is set to be deducted 0.5 per cent of his England central contract for every day he is on IPL duty, which could cost him more than £100,000.

According to the Daily Express, England players bought at the auction will be docked around £3,500 per day of their England salary to play in India.